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A HISTORY 



OF THE 



PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON. 

1681-1888. 

BY 

REV. HENRY A: HARLOW, A.M. 

Stated Clerk. 



MIDDLETOWN, N. Y. : 

Stivers, Slauson & Boyd, Publishers and Printers. 
1888. 



*$». 



>02 



"THE PERMANENT COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS," 
for the One Hundredth General Assembly, respectfully recom- 
mend : That it be urged on all the Presbyteries, to arrange for 
the collection and publication of the facts of their history, and 
that they be requested to forward two copies to the Stated^Clerk 
of the General Assembly and to the Presbyterian Historical 
Society respectively." 

Min. of the Gen. Assembly, 1886, p. 16. 



CO 



Chester, n. y., 19 April 1887. 
" The recommendation of the General Assembly concerning 
' the collection and publication of the facts in the History of the 
Presbytery,' was referred to a committee consisting of Rev. 
Messrs. James C. Forsythe and Charles Beattie and Elder Augus- 
tus Denniston." 

Min. of Presbytery, p. 258. 

' ' The committee to whom was referred the recommendation 
of the General Assembly, presented the following report, which 
was accepted ; and its recommendations were adopted seriatim. 

Your committee would respectfully report, and recommend 

First : That the Rev. Henry A. Harlow be appointed to pre- 
pare the history of this Presbytery. 

Second : That the churches be directed to furnish the Historian 
with a history of each church, as minute and full as possible, to 
aid in its preparation. 

Third: That the Historian be suitably compensated for his 
labor : to which each church is urgently requested to contribute. 

Fourth : That five hundred copies of the History be published 
by the Presbytery and at its expense. ' ' 

Min. of Presbytery, p. 263. 

Montgomery, N. Y. 20 Sept. 1887. 

' ' It was made the third order of the day, for the afternoon to 
hear the history of the Presbytery, as far as written." 

' ' The third order of the day was taken up, and Presbytery 
listened to the reading of the history as far as it had been pre- 
pared. After which it was 

RESOLVED : That, having heard from Rev. Henry A. Harlow, 
our Historian, a specimen of progress, we express our most 
hearty approbation of the work as far as written, and urge its 
speedy completion in the same philosophical, clear and compre- 
hensive manner. ' ' 

Min. of Presb3'tery, p. 284. 



THE 



PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON. 



CHAPTER I. 

ACTION OF SYNOD CREATING THE PRESBYTERY. — 
ORIGINAL ROLL OF MINISTERS AND CHURCHES. — 
GENERAL ANALYSIS OF THE WHOLE SUBJECT FROM 
1 68 1 TO 1888. 

' ' The Synod of New York and New Jersey, in 
session at Newark, N. Y., Oct. 22, 1795, 

Resolved : That all the ministers belonging to 
the Presbytery of New York within the following 
bounds, namely, the middle of the Southern moun- 
tains in Orange County, and the Southern bounds 
of the Presbytery of Albany, on the west side of 
the river Hudson, and all the ministers of Dutchess 
Presbytery, together with all the churches within 
their bounds, be erected into a Presbytery by the 
name of the Presbyter}'- of Hudson ; 

Whereupon : The Synod did dissolve the Pres- 
bytery of Dutchess, and erected the ministers" and 
churches within the above bounds into a separate 
Presbytery under the name of the Presbytery of 
Hudson. And 



HISTORY OF 



Ordered : That said Presbytery meet the first 
time in Franklin, on the third Tuesday of Novem- 
ber next, at two o'clock in the afternoon, and that 
Mr. Mead open the Presbytery and preside 'till a 
moderator be chosen, and in case of his absence, 
the senior minister present. 

Signed by order of Synod, 

Wieeiam Boyd, Moderator." 

' ' Agreeably to this order of Synod, the Presby- 
tery of Hudson met in Franklin, Dutchess County, 
(formerly Frederick' s-Burgh, now Patterson, Put- 
nam County,) and, in the absence of Rev. Solo- 
mon Mead, was opened by the Rev. Nathan Ker 
with a sermon from Psalms 46:5. God is 171 the 
midst of her ; she shall not be moved : God shall help 
her, and that right early. ' ' 

The Presbytery thus constituted, consisted of the 
following ministers and churches : 
Methuselah. Baldwin, Pastor, Pleasant Valley. 
Jonathan Freeman, 
John Joline, 
Nathan Ker, 
Andrew King, 



Solomon Mead, 
Jehu Minor, 
John Close, W. C. 



Hopewell and Deer Park. 

Florida and Warwick. 

Goshen. 

Wallkill. 

Salem. 

Union. (South-east.) 

Bedford, vacant. 

Bethlehem, 

Franklin, 

Newburgh, 

New Windsor, 

Rumbout, (Fishkill,) 

Pittsburgh, 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 7 

Of these ministers seven were pastors; and of the 
churches seven were vacant. Rev. Messrs. Joline, 
King, Mead and Minor were absent, and two 
churches were represented by Elders Reuben Hop- 
kins and Matthias Millspaugh. 

Inasmuch as each of these churches had a history 
extending back, in one instance seventy -five years, 
and in another, one hundred and fourteen years, — 
it is evident that a History of the Presbytery with- 
out a glance at the antecedents of these churches 
would be defective and unsatisfactory. Including 
therefore this very essential part, the History falls 
naturally into five distinct and well defined periods, 
as follows : 

I. The Period previous to Organization, from 1681 to 1795. 

II. The Period immediately after Organization, " 1795 " 1820, 

III. The Period of Division, - - - " 1820 " 1840. 

IV. The Period of Dual Existence, - - " 1840 " 1870. 
V. The Period of Re-union, - " 1870 " 1888. 



[. PERIOD ANTECEDENT TO ORGANIZATION. 



CHAPTER II. 

SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES IN CHRONOLOGICAL 
ORDER FROM l68l TO 1795. 

i. BEDFORD. — Two years before the present 
boundary between the Colonies of New York and 
Connecticut was agreed upon, twenty-four men ob- 
tained a grant of land three miles square from the 
Town of Stamford, Conn. , and laid out the Village 
of Bedford. 

They had previously paid ' ' the heathen Indian 
claimants" ^38, 15s, for the land. They followed 
the direction of the General Court of the Connecti- 
cut Colony, which required the setting apart of " a 
suitable lot for the first minister of the place, and a 
lot for the ministry forever." They located the 
meeting house, 10 March 1681, and proceeded to 
erect a structure twenty-two by forty feet, complet- 
ing it in about nine years. 

On 2 Dec. 1681, they called Rev. John Prudden 
of Jamaica, L,. I., to be their pastor, but without 
success. After three years they settled their first 
minister, Rev. Thomas Denham, who remained five 
years, receiving a stipend of ^20, ' ' provision pay, ' ' 
' ' with a house and a home lot. ' ' 
(8) 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 



The pastors of the Bedford Church were as fol- 
lows : 

Rev. Thomas Denham, pastor, 1684 to 1689. 

Public worship conducted by the civil 

authorities, - 

Rev. Joseph Morgan, pastor, 

' ' John Jones, " - 

-Vacant for fifteen years, 
Rev. William Tennent, Sr., pastor, 

Henry Baldwin, 

Robert Sturgeon, 

Samuel Sackett, 

Eliphalet Ball, 

Samuel Mills, 

John Davenport, 

Isaac Foster, 
Vacant, - 

Although no Presbytery had yet been organized 
on the American Continent, this church was dis- 
tinctly designated as " Presbyterian " from the be- 
ginning : and they are frequently referred to in 
Colonial Documents and the published official 
correspondence of the day, as ' ' rigid and avowed 
Presbyterians. ' ' 

" The care of public worship " during a vacancy 
in the pastoral office was regarded as much a duty 
of the civil authorities as was the gathering of 
taxes. The long vacancy of fifteen years, from 1705 
to 1720, was due to the oppressive policy of the 
Colonial Government of New York, which, after 
29 March 1700, had undisputed jurisdiction over 



1689 ' 


' 1699. 


1699 ' 


' 1700. 


1702 ' 


' 1705- 


1705 < 


' 1720. 


1720 ' 


' 1726. 


1727 ' 


' 1728. 


1731 ' 


' 1743- 


!743 


' 1753- 


1754 


' 1768. 


1769 


' 1786. 


1786 


' I79 1 - 


1791 


' 1 793- 


*793 


' 1795- 



IO HISTORY OF 

the Towns of Rye and Bedford. The entire com- 
munity was taxed for the support of the Episcopal 
Missionary at Rye, twenty miles distant. The 
constable was required to collect the assessment 
twice a year, with occasional extra collections, " to 
complete the church and repair the rector's house.'' 

The people of Bedford found it impossible to 
bear the expense of supporting also a ministry of 
their own. * 

2. GOSHEN.— It is a long interval from 1681 
to 1720, the date of organization of the church of 
Goshen. But the march of events during that forty 
years was like the tread of the host of Israel in the 
desert, — an irresistible sweep of God's purpose to 
drive out the heathen and plant the vine of his 
church, prepare room for it, cause it to take deep 
root, till it should fill the land, covering the hills 
with its shadow and sending out its boughs unto 
the sea.f 

Persecution for conscience sake, in the Old world, 
became the chief cause of a constantly increasing 
emigration to the New. Those settling in the 
" Highlands," as this region was then Called, were 
Scotch and Irish and Dutch, with some Huguenot 
refugees after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, 
A. D. 1685. They were firm in their religious 
convictions and strong in their impulses toward 
civil liberty and ' ' freedom to worship God. ' ' 



* Baird's History of the Bedford Church. Dodd, Mead & Co. 1882. 
f Psalm lxxx. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. II 

The Puritans in New England, the Roman 
Catholics in Maryland, the Quakers in Pennsylva- 
nia and the Episcopalians in Georgia, Carolina and 
New York, had each found a denominational home 
and secured the favor of the civil power. But 
" Presbyterians were never fostered by the state;"* 
and least of all in the province of New York. Re- 
ligious liberty was secured by the original proprie- 
tors of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New 
Jersey, and there, congregations were first organized 
into churches, and churches and ministers into a 
Presbytery in 1705 (or 6). But in the province of 
New York, whose entire population in 1700 was 
less than 20,000, the repressive influences of pov- 
erty, widely separated settlements with limited 
means of intercourse, and especially the oppressive 
policy of the Colonial Government, hindered and 
delayed the crystallization of Presbyterian elements 
into organized form. "Not one-tenth of the pop- 
ulation of the entire province of New York adhered 
to the Episcopal Church ;"f nine-tenths were Dis- 
senters, and were almost wholly made up of the 
Dutch and German Reformed, and Scotch and 
Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. 

While their sinewy arms subdued the wilderness, 
and their vigilance guarded their settlements, "the 
dread of lapsing into barbarism ' ' re-enforced their 
religious impulses. Few log-cabins were without 
a family altar ; the Bible and the Catechism were 



* H. B. Smith, D.D., History of the Church in America. 
t Bancroft's History U. S. Vol 3, p. 58. 



12 HISTORY OF 

taught in their log school houses, and they hope- 
fully looked forward to the time when they could 
' ' praise God in his Sanctuary, ' ' even though that 
too should, in some instances, be constructed of 
logs. 

Under ' ' the law of the Spirit of life in Christ 
Jesus, ' ' in the midst of these years, and under these 
apparently untoward circumstances, churches of 
the Presbyterian order sprang up in this region 
and continue to this day. It is asserted that as 
early as 17 15, a congregation of no mean propor- 
tions assembled for worship at Goshen, and if no 
preacher was to be had, those staunch Scotch-Irish 
immigrants were at no loss to know how to " carry 
on the Lord's day." There is no uncertainty how- 
ever about the organization of the Goshen Church 
in the year 1720. It was presented by the propri- 
etors of the town with land amounting to one 
hundred and forty acres. * Its first house of worship 
was begun in 1724, and with repairs and improve- 
ments from time to time, continued to accommodate 
the congregation for eighty-nine years. After 
occasional preaching by a Rev. Mr. Treat, their 
first pastor Rev. John Bradner was called, and in 
172 1 was duly installed. 

The pastors of the Goshen Church were as fol- 
lows : 
Rev. John Bradner, pastor, 1721, died 1732. 

" John Tudor, stated supply, 1732 to 1737. 



Isaac VanDoren. M. S. History, 1807. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 3 

Rev. Silas Leonard, pastor, J 737i died 1758. 

" Abner Brush, " 1 75& to 1766. 

" Nathan Ker, " 1766, died 1804. 

At the beginning of Mr. Ker's ministry in 1766 
this congregation consisted of one hundred and fifty 
families and sixty communicants.* 

3. WALLKILL. 4. BETHLEHEM.— The 
simultaneous appearance of two other churches 
within this decade, justifies the statement that the 
ever-living Head kept these scattered members of 
his body alive "by his Spirit dwelling in them" 
during this famine of the Ministry of the word. 

The names of Wallkill and Bethlehem are coup- 
led from their earliest history. Those people of 
' ' Wallakill ' ' whose petition to the Synod of Phila- 
delphia 20 Sept. 1729, "for supplies of preaching 
among them," resulting in their recommendation 
to the Presbytery of Philadelphia, cannot be 
thought of as irreligious. They were simply des- 
titute of the outward and ordinary means of grace. 
About forty families from the North of Ireland, | 
all of whom had come into the neighborhood with- 
in eight years, sent a messenger to distant Phila- 
delphia, with this Macedonian cry for a preacher ! 
Doubtless some rude house of worship, which 
yielded to a better one in 1735, was the first work 
of their hands. During that six years they were 
supplied by such ministers as could be obtained. 



* VanDoren. 

J Rev. J. M. Dickson's History of the Goodwill Church, p. 20. 
Ruttenbor. 1880. 



14 HISTORY OF 

The same statements serve to describe the pro- 
cess by which the Presbyterian element a few miles 
east was at the same time crystallizing into the 
Church of Bethlehem. And while there is a nebu- 
lous indistinctness about the day and month and 
even the year of organization, these churches appear 
in conjunction in a call upon the Rev. Isaac Chalker 

in *735- 

Owing to "groundless" jealousies conceived 
against Mr. Chalker after the call was made out, 
" it is certain he never became pastor " at " Walla- 
kill, "f The inference is just as legitimate from 
the record of the proceedings of the Synod of Phil- 
adelphia, 23 Sept. 1735,1 that he did become pastor 
at Bethlehem. 

The pastors of the Wallkill Church were as fol- 
lows : 
Rev. Isaac Chalker, pastor elect, 1735 to 1740 

" Joseph Houston, " 1740, died 29 Oct. 1740 
Vacant, with various supplies, I 74° to 1751 

Rev. John Moffat, pastor, 1751 to 1767 

" John Blair, " 1769, died 8 Dec. 1771 

Vacant, - - - 1 771 to 1776 

Rev. Andrew King, pastor, 1776, died 16 Dec. 1815 

During the pastorate of Rev. John Moffat, a new 
Meeting House was completed, a glebe of one 
hundred acres, adjoining, was purchased, and a 
small parsonage built. 



f Ibid. p. 19. 

X History Presbyterian Church, p. 118. P. B. P. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 5 

Notwithstanding this improvement in material 
things, the latter part of Mr. Moffat's ministry was 
much disturbed and possibly terminated, by the 
secession of a portion of the congregation to form 
the Associate church of Neelytown, under the Rev. 
Robert Annan ; and the exact date of his resign- 
ation is not known. 

The Rev. John Blair, ordained 20 Dec. 1742, a 
pastor for sixteen years in Pennsylvania, then Vice 
President of the College of New Jersey and Pro- 
fessor of Theology in Nassau Hall, finished his 
brilliant career in the pastoral office at Wallkill. 
He died 8 Dec. 177 1, and was buried in the rear 
of the church beside the first pastor, Rev. Joseph 
Houston. His judicious management and amiable 
character did much toward healing the breach and 
allaying the spirit of discord and division which 
had prevailed. 

After a vacancy of five years, and amid the civil 
tumult of the period, Mr. Andrew King became 
pastor. He was called 9 Oct. 1776, and on 11 
June 1777, the Presbytery of New York met at 
Wallkill and proceeded to ordain and install him 
in the pastoral office. This relation continued un- 
broken for a period of forty years, and closed with 
his death 16 Nov. 1S15. 

The pastors of the Bethlehem Church were as 
follows : 

Rev. Isa.ac Chalker, pastor, - 1735 to 1743. 

Vacant, seven years, - - - 1743 " 1750. 
Rev. Enos Ayres, pastor, - 1750, died 1762. 



1 6 HISTORY OF 

Vacant, five years, - - - 1762 to 1767 

Rev. Francis Peppard, pastor, - ■ 1767 " 1771 
Vacant, two years, - - - I77i u i773 

Rev. John Close, stated supply, T 773 " J 7&5 

Vacant, thirteen years, ... - - 1785 " 1798 

The fact that the Bethlehem church had a meet- 
ing house in 1730* is strong evidence of the truth 
of the statement that it was contemporaneous with 
Wallkill in origin. 

Like that people, they were obliged to be content 
with '" such supplies as could be obtained" until 
their joint call upon Mr. Chalker. The loss of the 
Records of the ' ' Presbytery of East Jersey ' ' make it 
impossible to state that Mr. Chalker was installed. 
As however that Presbytery ordained him in 1734, 
and he continued his labors at Bethlehem for eight 
years, the presumption is that he was regularly 
installed. He removed to Connecticut in 1743, 
settled at Eastbury, and died 28 May 1765. 

His successor, Enos Ayres — first on the roll of 
the first class that graduated at the College of New 
Jersey, in 1748, — was ordained soon after gradua- 
tion and supplied the pulpit of the Wallkill Church 
during the winter of 1749-50. The date of his in- 
stallation is uncertain. His death occurred in 1762. 

The same obscurity veils the beginning of the 
ministry of Rev. Francis Peppard. He was a faith- 
ful and successful pastor, closing his labors in this 
field in 1771. 



* Gillett. Vol. 1, p. 153. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. I J 

After an interval of two years, Rev. John Close 
began to supply Bethlehem one half his time, 
but was never installed. There were twelve addi- 
tions to the membership during the twelve years 
that he supplied them. He also acted as Chaplain 
to the Continental troops stationed near Newburgh. 
He relinquished the charge of the Bethlehem 
Church in 1785, and the pulpit remained vacant 
until 1798. Such ministrations as they received, 
however, were greatly blessed, and more than 
twenty souls were added during this vacancy of 
thirteen years. 

5. NEW WINDSOR.— In May 1766, Rev. 
Timothy Jones, D.D., of the Presbytery of New 
York, organized the church of New Windsor. In 
1767, Rev. Francis Peppard began to minister to 
them in connection with Bethlehem. In 1773, 
Rev. John Close began to supply them one half his 
time, and continued to do so until Nov. 1796. 

6. NEWBURGH. — A congregation was incor- 
porated at Newburgh in 1784. In 1785 Rev. John 
Close, leaving Bethlehem, devoted half his time to 
this new enterprise in connection with New Wind- 
sor. His labors ceased in 1796, and on 19 April 
1797, he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Albany. 
He died in 1813. 

7. FRANKLIN.— This church, in which the 
Presbytery of Hudson met for the first time, 17 
Nov. 1795, should, for this reason, if no other, be 
rescued from oblivion. After the opening sermon 

2 



1 8 HISTORY OF 

and prayer, Rev. Nathan Ker was chosen Moder- 
ator and Rev. Methuselah Baldwin, Clerk. The 
minute of Synod was read, by whose authority the 
Presbytery was formed, and then the first and only 
business for that day was to entertain ' ' the follow- 
ing question from the trustees of the Presbyterian 
church and congregation of the Village of Fred- 
ericks-Burgh in Frederickstown in Dutchess County 
namely : ' is it the opinion of the Presbytery that 
the church which was in this place during the 
ministry of the Rev. David Close, deceased, does 
still exist ? ' The Presbytery adjourned, and the 
next day, after some preliminary business, the 
answer was returned that ' the said church does 
still exist' " 

Now this church and congregation of Fredericks- 
Burgh seems to have been the very one in whose 
meeting house the Presbytery was convened ; and 
which was properly called Franklin. This appears 
from the following official record : 

LAWS OF NEW YORK ; XVIII SESSION ; CHAPTER 21. 
An act to divide Frederickstown and South East Town in 
Dutchess County into four towns. 

One of these four towns was named Franklin in 
honor of Dr. Franklin ; and it included the Village 
of Fredericksburgh where this church was located. 
This act of the legislature is dated 17 March 1795, 
the same year in which the Presbytery was formed, 
eight months later. 

On the 6 April 1808, the name of this town was, 
by the same authority, again changed to PAT- 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 9 

TERSON, so that the present church of Patterson 
appears to be identical with the church of Franklin, 
"the second church in Philipse Patent." 

' ' The first Presbyterian meeting house in the 
Town of Patterson, was constructed of logs some- 
where about 1730."* This makes that church 
almost cotemporaneous in its origin with Wallkill 
and Bethlehem. Among its earliest ministers are 
Rev. Messrs. Joseph Peck and David Close, the 
latter of whom was ordained by the "Dutchess 
County Presbytery " in 1773, and died in 1783. 
Rev. Samuel Mills, pastor of Bedford, which lay 
in ashes, f supplied them from 1783 to 1789, 
although his pastoral relation to Bedford Church 
was not dissolved until 1786. 

8. UNION. — "A church was built and an 
organized congregation gathered in the plain log 
building — before the coming of the first pastor, 
Rev. Elisha Kent;" who was installed in 1743 
and died in that office, 17 July 1776. 

On 11 October 1769, Rev. Ichabod Lewis be- 
came colleague, and after the death of Mr. Kent, 
was duly installed in the pastoral office, continuing 
sole pastor until 1790. 

In February 1792, Rev Jehu Minor, who had 
for a short time assisted Mr. Lewis, became sole 
pastor on his voluntary retirement, and was in- 
stalled in February 1792, by the "Dutchess Presby- 
tery." Mr. Minor continued there until his death, 



* Smith's History of Dutchess Co. Appendix A. 
f Baird's History of Bedford Church. 



20 HISTORY OF 

5 July 1808, having been forty years in the min- 
istry and eighteen years pastor of the "Union" 
church, " the first church of Philipse Patent," (the 
present church of South East.)! 

In April 1797, the Presbytery of Hudson "ad- 
journed to meet at Mr. Minor's, in South East 
Town, on the first Tuesday in September, ' ' and on 
"5 Sept. 1797, the Presbytery met at "Union" 
according to adjournment." 

9. PITTSBURGH. 10. PLEASANT VAL- 
LEY. — These two churches evidently stand in the 
relation of parent and child to each other, of which 
Pittsburgh is the parent. As in many other in- 
stances, their origin is found in the erection of a 
house of worship, rather than in a distinct ecclesi- 
astical organization. 

The first building was erected in 1747, at Wash- 
ington Hollow, Dutchess County. Here for a 
period of sixteen years the gospel was preached 
from time to time by various ministers among 
whom survive the names of licentiate Deliverance 
Smith and a Rev. Mr. Thompson. 

In 1763, a board of trustees was elected, "assist- 
ant to the old one," and its members were consti- 
tuted "a committee to invite candidates — and 
should one be called, to represent the affair to Pres- 
bytery — and, until there be a regular church, to 
advise the supplies," etc. 

Application to the "Presbytery of Dutchess," 
2 May 1764, was made in connection with Pough- 

X Rev. A. R. Macoubry. Historical Sermon. 1877. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 21 

keepsie, "for a candidate to preach ontryal," and 
for supplies until such a candidate could be ob- 
tained. Organization was probably effected the 
next year, as Mr. Wheeler Case was called, ordain- 
ed and installed 12 Nov. 1765, "pastor of Pou'- 
keepsie and Charlotte ; ' ' Pittsburgh being the only 
church in Charlotte Precinct. 

Four years later in 1769, the house of worship 
was rebuilt and there were ' ' thirty-five male mem- 
bers of the congregation. ' ' 

In 1770 a house of worship having been erected 
and inclosed at the growing village of Pleasant 
Valley, five miles west, on the road to Pou' keepsie, 
Mr. Case obtained a release from his relation to 
the Pou' keepsie congregation and held services in 
the new meeting house. Although it was neither 
plastered nor furnished with pews for sixteen years, 
it was nevertheless destined to outgrow the Pitts- 
burgh congregation at Washington Hollow. 

On 26 January 1785, the new church began its 
corporate existence, and Mr. Case continued pastor 
of the double charge, Pittsburgh and Pleasant 
Valley, during the rest of his life, which terminated 
31 August 1 791. This long pastorate of twenty- 
six years, through troublous times, in which he 
was ' ' robbed of nearly all he possessed by British 
soldiers," was fruitful in the results of a faithful 
ministry. He was cheered towards the close of his la- 
bors by an extensive revival of religion and a general 
awakening, especially among the young people, f 

t Mr. VanDoren. 



22 HISTORY OF 

From 1 79 1 to 1793, the pulpit was supplied by- 
Presbytery as often as practicable. On 6 Nov. 
1793, Rev. Methuselah Baldwin was duly installed, 
and continued pastor until 4 Sept. 1798.* 

11. FLORIDA. 12. WARWICK.— These 
churches are associated from their earliest reliable 
history. An extant M. S. history of the ' ' Presby- 
tery of Hudson" by Rev. Isaac Van Doren, 1807, 
states that " this church was organized about 1750, 
and had for their first settled minister Rev. Jona- 
than Elmer, who preached about four years in this 
place and at Warwick. After this time he con- 
fined his labors to Florida alone for about three 
years. " " After a vacancy of five years in Florida 
— and of eight years in Warwick — in 1762, Rev. 
Samuel Parkhurst became the pastor of the two 
churches. Mr. Parkhurst died 2 Mar. 1768. In 
1770 "two acres of ground were given for the use 
and benefit of the ' Presbyterian Church at War- 
wick." "On 9 April 1772, Mr. Amzi Lewis was 
ordained and installed pastor of the churches of 
Florida and Warwick. ' ' He served both churches 
for five years, when the ' ' Presbytery of New 
York," by a commission, released him from his 
pastorate at Warwick. He remained ten years 
longer at Florida, during which time Warwick was 
partly supplied by Presbytery. Mr. Lewis was one 
of four ministers who formed the ' ' Associated 
Presbytery of Morris County" on 1 May 1780. 



Rev. A. B. Prichard. Historical Discourse. 1882. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 23 

There is no evidence however that Florida, or any 
other church west of the Hudson, ever withdrew 
from the care of the ' ' Presbytery of New York. ' ' 
Mr. Lewis alone, belonging to the ' ' Presbytery of 
Morris County," will account for the informality 
in his departure from Florida. Mr. VanDoren 
makes no allusion to any action of Presbytery, but 
simply states that he withdrew with the assent of 
the congregation, and removed to North Salem. 
During his pastorate there were two revivals of 
considerable extent : and during the following long 
vacancy of seven years the place was again visited 
with an outpouring of the Spirit, so that forty were 
added to the membership in the first year of the 
ministry of the Rev. John Joline, which began 10 
May 1795, although he was not installed until 13 
June 1797.* 

13. SALEM. — This church was organized in 
1752, with 28 members. The Rev. Solomon Mead 
was ordained and installed 19 May in that year, 
and continued their pastor until 4 Sept. 1800, a 
period of forty-eight years. He died in 1812, at 
the advanced age of eighty-six years. 

Mr. Mead withdrew from the "Association of 
Fairfield," Conn., and with Rev. Messrs. Blisha 
Kent and Joseph Peck, organized the ' ' Presbytery 
of Dutchess County," 27 Oct. 1762, the first eccle- 
siastical body constituted in that region. The 
next year, on 29 May, they were recognized and 



Min. Presb. Vol. 1, p. 28. 



24 HISTORY OF 

received in a Presbyterial capacity by the " Synod 
of New York and Philadelphia, ' ' with Rev. Messrs. 
Samuel Sackett, Eliphalet Ball, Chauncey Graham 
and John Smith additional members. This Pres- 
bytery had a brief and troubled history. It em- 
braced all the churches east of the Hudson and 
north of New York City, including also Cherry 
Valley and Albany on the west, sixteen in number. 
Many of these were greatly enfeebled during the 
war of the Revolution ; in 1790, the "Presbytery of 
Albany" was formed on the North, and in 1792, 
the " Associated Presbytery of Westchester " drew 
off about half the remaining congregations. It was 
the means however of strengthening Presbyterian- 
ism in that region ; and the thirty-three years of 
its existence included much that is interesting and 
important in our church history. It is certainly a 
matter for deep regret that the Records of " Dutch- 
ess Presbytery ' ' have not been found. The last 
trace of them yet discovered was in Newburgh, N. 
Y., 27 Dec. 1844. The purpose of this work how- 
ever includes no further reference to its roll of 
churches or ministers, than to note those which 
were merged into the ' ' Presbytery of Hudson. ' ' 

14. Rumbout or FISHKILTv.— This church 
like many others, originated in an effort to build 
a meeting-house. The building was so far com- 
pleted as to be ready for dedication in 1748, when 
the church was duly organized on 3 July. On 29 
Jan. 1749, Rev. Chauncey Graham was ordained 
and installed by a " Council. ' ' According to Mr. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 25 

VanDoren, he was released in Sept. 1768. Dr. 
Gillett affirms that he was released in 1773, and 
that he died in 1784.* 

After Mr. Graham's release, the pulpit was 
vacant until 1784, after which time a neighboring 
minister of the R. D. Church — Rev. Mr. Blauvelt 
— supplied them for six years. Rev. Daniel Marsh, 
of the ' ' Associated Presbytery of Morris County, ' ' 
was supply from 1791 to 1796. 

On 18 Nov. 1795, they requested to be taken 
under the care of this Presbytery and asked sup- 
plies, both which requests were granted, f 

15. DEER PARK.— The germ from which 
this church grew, was the gift of fifty acres of land 
to the " first regularly organized religious society 
in the town. ' ' This was given by Oliver Delaney, 
Esq., of New York City, 25 March 1770. At that 
time and during that decade the voice of the 
preacher of the Gospel was seldom heard on the 
Eastern Slope of the Shawangunk Mountain. The 
Rev. Amzi Lewis of Florida made occasional visits, 
and after a time gathered a congregation. It was 
natural that they should sympathize in his views 
of church order. Mr. VanDoren says, that he 
organized a Congregational Church which in his 
day remained in connection with the ' ' Associated 
Presbytery of Morris County." On the 9 Feb. 
1785, the "First Presbyterian Church of Deer 
Park ' ' was incorporated. 



* Vol. 1, p. 130. 

f Min. ofPresb. of Hudson. Vol. 



26 HISTORY OF 

In 1 791, the first house of worship was erected 
upon an additional plot of ground, five acres in 
extent, given by Lewis A. Scott, Esq., of New 
York City. In May 1791, and in May 1792, Rev. 
Messrs. Ker, of Goshen, and King, of Wallkill, 
were appointed by the " Presbytery of New York," 
to supply New Shawangunk or Deer Park. Mr, 
VanDoren says Mr. Ker organized the church. 
Licentiates Baldwin and Freeman were directed to 
spend some time there in June and in September. 
Mr. Jonathan Freeman was called and installed, 
29 August 1793, and remained pastor of Hopewell 
and Deer Park churches until April 1797, when_ 
his relation to this church was dissolved. 

16. HOPEWELL. — The Hopewell church 
originated in a spontaneous movement on the part 
of the increasing population, to build for them- 
selves a house of worship. It was in the year 
1779. The pastor of the Wallkill church had 
maintained an outstation in that neighborhood for 
a number of years. But thirteen years more 
elapsed before their modest structure was plastered 
and furnished with pews. Then in 1792, a board 
of trustees was chosen, and on 28 August 1793, 
Mr. Jonathan Freeman was ordained and installed 
pastor : although it was not until the following 
November that the Hopewell church was regularly 
organized, with twenty members. Twenty more 
were received at their first communion. Mr. Free- 
man's pastoral relation was dissolved 18 April 1798. 



CHAPTER III. 

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERY ESSENTIALLY THE HIS- 
TORY OF THE CHURCHES. VARIED ORIGIN OF 

THE CHURCHES. — CAUSES OF DISTURBANCE IN 
CHURCH LIFE. 

Having traced, as accurately as possible and as 
fully as seems consistent with the object in view, 
the antecedent history of each church on the roll 
of this Presbytery at the time of its organization, 
it will be proper to state that throughout these 
pages THE CHURCHES will be regarded as of 
primary importance, the ministry being second, 
and the Presbyterial connection of both minister 
and church, third in point of interest. ' ' The 
facts in the history of Presbytery, ' ' required by the 
resolution of the Assembly can scarcely be collated 
under the most carefully prepared Biographies of 
Ministers, and to trace the tangled threads of their 
Presbyterial relationships would be perplexing in 
the extreme. Even the territorial bounds of the 
Presbytery are subject to change. But the indi- 
vidual church is a candle-stick fixed by the Master ; 
or rather a beacon, of which the eldership is the 
•framework, the minister is the light and the Pres- 
bytery the keeper. The light may be dim or bril- 
liant ; it may cease to throw its rays into the moral 
darkness around it : but it is seldom the Master re- 
moves the candle-stick out of its place, or permits 

(27) 



28 HISTORY OF 

the framework of his beacons ' ' on the shores of 
time," to fall to decay. 

Much might be written respecting the wilderness 
in which one by one these candle-sticks were set. 
To our eyes it is like a beautiful park. It was 
different in those days. 

The variety of ways in which the religious senti- 
ment in each settlement grew into an organized 
body, is too striking to be passed by. In one 
case (Deer Park), a ' ' glebe ' ' was donated fifteen 
years before there existed a body with legal power 
to receive it. In many instances a meeting house 
was erected, in readiness whenever a man of God 
should appear to break the bread of life. And 
after the War of the Revolution, in several in- 
stances a certificate of incorporation provided a 
board of trustees to receive bequests and hold real 
estate, before elder or deacon or minister appeared 
upon the scene. 

The history of this Antecedent Period would be 
especially defective were there no reference to 
those phenomena which, analagous to a tidal wave, 
from time to time swept over and influenced, to a 
greater or less extent, the life of the church. 

The first of these, accompanying the great awak- 
ening which followed the track of Whitfield, re- 
sulted in the formation in 1740 of the sect called 
at first "New Lights" and afterward in 1750 
' ' Separates. ' ' This wave of religious enthusiasm 
lifted some from their anchorage and set them adrift. 
The harmony of some of the churches was broken 



HUDSON PRESBYTKRY. 29 

and during the pastorate of Rev. Silas Leonard, 
an unhappy division occurred in Goshen church 
by their means. * The Bedford church was much 
weakened by a division from the same cause, and 
it resulted in the release of Rev. Samuel Sackett 
from his pastoral relation at the request of the 
congregation, on 4 April 1753.! 

This element of disturbance lasted a score of 
years, and then disappeared. Beginning in an 
erroneous view of the Holy Spirit's work, it 
drifted into errors in practice, and after the healing 
of the division between the Synods soon ceased to 
be felt. 

The second disturbance was, when the ground- 
swell of ecclesiastical division in Scotland began to 
be felt on this side the Atlantic, and the " Praying 
Societies" of the Covenanters drew many from 
the membership of our growing churches. The 
Wallkill church more than any other in this region, 
was rent by this influence, about the year 1765 
or '67. 

Then followed the French War and the War of 
the Revolution, when Christian patriots felt that 
prayers for religious liberty were to be addressed 
no longer to Parliament, but only Godward ; and 
that answers to those prayers must be looked for 
in the issue of a protracted and desperate fight for 
civil liberty. In this struggle Presbyterians were 
patriots to a man. The territory we occupy be- 



* Van Doren. 

f Baird's Histor}^ p. 59. 



30 HISTORY OF 

came historic ground, and while the armies surged 
back and forth across it, the churches suffered, in 
some instances loss of property, — the meeting 
house and nearly every dwelling in Bedford being 
burned 2 July 1779, by Tarleton's troops, — and in 
every instance a diminution in membership ; 
although faith in God and private devotion doubt- 
less were both strong and earnest. 

After this, English Deism intrenched itself 
in the very heart of this region. The ' ' Druid 
Society ' ' was organized at Newburgh and met 
weekly, for the purpose of throwing ridicule and 
discredit upon the idea of the Bible being a reve- 
lation from God, and for circulating " Paine' s Age 
of Reason." French infidelity, which came to us 
with their warm political sympathy, aided in sup- 
port of a periodical for the advancement of the 
views of Voltaire and Rousseau. The triumph of 
this adversary, however, was short. With the 
settled condition of the country at large, came in- 
dications that Zion was about to arise and " shake 
herself from the dust." The century closed and 
the new one opened amid one of the most extended 
series of revivals of religion ever witnessed in this 
country. 

In the midst of the seven years' struggle for 
Independence, trouble arose from another cause. 
Restiveness under authority ; jealousy of eccle- 
siastical control ; a dread of Presbytery as though 
it were both priest and pope ' ' writ large ; ' ' inability 
to grasp the idea that " tell it unto the church "J 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 3 1 

could mean anything beyond a single congregation 
and so ' ' courts of appeal ' ' must be unscriptural ; 
a forgetfulness of Isaiah' s§ maxim, "he that 
believeth shall not make haste;" — these, — com- 
bined with such eagerness to extend the cause of 
Christ as would hurry men into the ministry with 
very meagre qualifications, led to the formation of 
the "Associated Presbyteries." The Rev. Amzi 
Lewis of Florida was one of four ministers to form 
the first of these in 1780. It was called the 
" Associated Presbytery of Morris County. " 
While this secession did not disturb the churches 
west of the Hudson, the formation of the " Associ- 
ated Presbytery of Westchester, ' ' twelve years later 
in 1792, rent no fewer than thirteen churches from 
the ' ' Dutchess Presbytery, ' ' and largely accounts 
for its weakness at the time this Presbytery was 
formed. 

This phenomenon spent itself in forty years, and 
the anomaly of a Presbygational form of govern- 
ment ceased to exist about 1820. 

Reference has already been made to the civil 
disabilities under which all non-episcopal religious 
bodies labored during Colonial times, and which 
undoubtedly had a repressive influence upon our 
•churches. Among others, Goshen church persist- 
ently and vainly tried to secure incorporation. 
All these were removed when INDEPENDENCE 
■of both Parliament and Prelacy was achieved. 

X Matt, xviii : 17. 
'4 Matt, xxviii : 16. 



32 HISTORY OF 

This chapter in American Presbyterian Church 
History shows some of the chief sources, internal 
and external, of disturbance in church life. With- 
in, there may be a too rigid ecclesiasticism on the 
one hand, and a restive independency on the 
other ; and still more potent is the indulgence of 
that disposition which says ' ' I am holier than 
thou ;" while the external foes to the peace of 
the church appear as organized infidelity,, and 
diversion of attention from religion by civil and 
political agitation. 



Isaiah lxv : 5. 



II. PERIOD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ORGANIZATION. 

1 795~ l8 20. 



CHAPTER IV. 

BOUNDARIES OF THE PRESBYTERY. — FEATURES OF 
THE TIME. SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES CON- 
TINUED. 

With this period began the organic life of the 
PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON. It consisted of 
eight ministers and the sixteen churches whose 
outlines have thus been drawn. Its territorial 
limits were the Shawangunk Mountain on the 
west and Connecticut on the east. The New 
Jersey line extended across to the southern ex- 
tremity of Connecticut, on the south ; and on the 
north, about the middle of Ulster and Dutchess 
Counties : fifty miles east and west and as many 
north and south. 

There was no Rockland County, (1798,) no Sul- 
livan County, (1809,) and no Putnam, County, 
(1812). 

The north boundary of Orange County extended 
from Cornwall, straight west to the Delaware River. 

A treaty had just been concluded between the 
U. S. Government and the Six Nations, so that 
3 (33) 



34 HISTORY OF 

dread of Indian raids no longer hovered like a 
nightmare over the settlements. 

With the increased sense of security, migration 
from the New England States to and beyond the 
Hudson rapidly increased. On three days of the 
previous winter, twelve hundred sled-loads of fur- 
niture and families, and five hundred by actual 
count on the last day of Feb. 1795, passed through 
Albany en route to the newly opened Great West 
in the Genesee Valley. 

That very year Union College was founded at 
Schenectady. Its President, Rev. John -Blair 
Smith, Presbyterian, and Rev. Eliphalet Nott, 
Congregationalist, originated the famous Plan of 
Union, which was afterward proposed by the 
' ' Congregational Association of Connecticut, ' ' and 
adopted by the General Assembly in 1801. 

Already the harbingers of an approaching re- 
vival of religious life were discernible, in an 
ingathering of souls at Bedford, Pleasant Valley, 
Hopewell and Florida. Thoughtful men bestirred 
themselves to lay the foundations for a more ex- 
tended and thorough cultivation of the field, and 
on all sides there was more hopefulness. 

How far this hopefulness was justifiable, will 
appear as we trace the Presbytery through the first 
quarter century of its history. Content simply to 
find in church extention the true index of Presby- 
terial vigor, let us first continue the story of our 
original sixteen churches in alphabetical order. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 35 

i. BEDFORD— Which had been vacant for 
two years, called Rev. Samuel Blatchford from 
England, who as Stated Supply spent six or eight 
months of 1795 and '96 with that church. He 
was succeeded by Rev. Josiah Henderson, who was 
installed 15 Nov. 1798 and dismissed 15 Nov. 
1803. Rev. Ebenezer Grant was installed 20 
Sept. 1804, dying in the pastoral office after 
seventeen years of faithful service, 6 Sept. 
182 1. His remains were laid beside those of the 
first pastor, Rev. Thomas Denham, who thirty-two 
years before had been buried there. During his 
pastorate and largely through Presbyterian influ- 
ence, in 1807, the Bedford Academy was founded, 
which has made an enviable reputation as a seat 
of learning. Established five years before our 
public school system was adopted, it has con- 
tributed largely to the intelligence and public 
spirit of that region, and many distinguished 
professional and business men ' ' have pursued their 
studies within its walls."* 

2 . BETHEEHEM— Had been vacant ten years, 
and it was not until April 1798, that Rev. Jonathan 
Freeman became pastor-ele6l in connection with 
New Windsor. This relationship continued until 
Feb. 1 80 1, when Presbytery united New Windsor 
with Newburgh, and on May 5, installed him there, 
having severed his connection with Bethlehem. 

After about two years Mr. Joel T. Benedict, a 
licentiate of the ' ' Presbytery of Morris County, ' ' 
* Baird's History, p. 79. 



36 HISTORY OF 

was invited to act as their supply and did so. 
Whereupon in Sept. 1803, Presbytery issued a cir- 
cular letter and ordered it entered upon the Session 
Book of every vacant church, "enjoining upon 
such vacant churches " as " have fallen in with 
strangers calling themselves preachers of the Gos- 
pel, and in a very hasty and inconsiderate manner 
employed them as their religious teachers and set- 
tled them in their own way without consulting 
Presbytery, ' ' to see ' ' that such preacher appear 
before the next Presbytery and exhibit his creden- 
dials for inspection and if approved subject himself 
to the direction of Presbytery." On 19 April 1804, 
Mr. Benedict appeared in Presbytery, ' ' presented 
his testimonials which were approved, ' ' and having 
' ' engaged to comply with our standards while in 
our bounds, ' ' he was appointed to preach at Beth- 
lehem from time to time until Sept. 1806 ; when, 
on examining the Sessional Records, exception was 
made "that Mr. Benedict, not being a member of 
Presbytery nor in connection with our church, had 
acted as Moderator, ex-officio, in all the meetings 
of the Session. ' ' 

The matter was ' ' referred to the Synod for 
advice and direction." The Synod approved the 
exception, and while considering it highly inexpe- 
dient to declare the acts and proceedings of the 
Session, so moderated, to be invalid, gravely ani- ' 
madverted upon the disorderly conduct of the con- 
gregation in engaging a minister without the advice 
and consent of Presbytery, and as seriously testified 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 37 

their ' ' disapprobation of the conduct of the Pres- 
bytery in repeatedly appointing Mr. Benedict as 
supply, and even approving the records' of Session 
moderated by him, for several years. ' ' 

The action of Synod was entered at length upon 
the minutes of Presbytery at its next meeting in 
April 1807, and it was resolved "in future to pay 
particular attention to the above directions. ' ' 

On 21 April 1808, Mr. Denniston, elder from 
Bethlehem, asked for a committee on the affairs of 
that church. Rev. Messrs. Baldwin, Lewis and 
VanDoren with three elders were directed to pro- 
ceed to Bethlehem on the following Monday. This 
committee reported 7 June following, their own 
complete success in satisfying the people, and the 
engagement of the people to comply with the rules 
and regulations of Presbytery. 

On 9 Feb. 1809, Mr. Henry Ford was ordained 
and installed at Bethlehem. Presbytery met at 
Westtown on Tuesday and received Mr. Ford as a 
licentiate from the Presbytery of New York, and 
examined him on "Classical studies and Church 
History. " On Wednesday morning they heard his 
sermon, and then adjourned to meet at Bethlehem 
at six o'clock p. m. At six p. m. they met at Beth- 
lehem, completed his examinations, from ' ' Exper- 
imental Religion " to " Government and Discipline 
of the Church, ' ' and on Thursday proceeded to his 
ordination and installation. Mr. Ford was then 
enrolled and took his seat. This pastoral relation 
continued a little over four years, during which 



38 HISTORY OF 

time Mr. Ford was also several times employed as 
Presbyterial Missionary, and in 18 12 went as far 
as Broome and Chenango Counties, spending eight 
weeks in arduous and fruitful labours. His pastoral 
relation was dissolved 21 April 181 3. 

On the 20 April 1814, Presbytery received Mr. 
Artemas Dean as a licentiate from the ' ' Northern 
Associated Presbytery," and on the 11 May fol- 
lowing, ordained and installed him at Bethlehem. 
Mr. Dean continued pastor until 19 April 1842. 

3. DEER PARK. — During the vacancy of six 
years which ensued upon the departure of Mr. 
Freeman from Deer Park church, their title to the 
meeting house and fifty-five acres of land was con- 
tested by the ' ' Congregational Society of Mount 
Hope." The suit was decided by the court in 
favor of the Presbyterian Church and they have 
since retained undisturbed possession. * 

On 29 June 1803, Mr. Benjamin Prime was or- 
dained and installed. On 26 April 1807, the 
congregation petitioned Presbytery to dissolve the 
pastoral relation, Mr. Prime concurred, the request 
was granted and the pulpit declared vacant. It 
remained vacant for over nine years, receiving sup- 
plies from Presbytery once a month and, some 
years, less frequently. 

In April 181 6, the Committee of Missions re- 
ported that they had employed Mr. William Blain, a 
licentiate of the ' ' Presbytery of Albany, ' ' to itiner- 



* Rev. Luther Iittell. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 39 

ate in the Towns of Minisink and Deer Park. On 
the 17 Sept. following, Mr. Blain was received 
under the care of the Presbytery and ordained and 
installed over this church. He was released from 
this charge 17 April 1822. 

4. FISHKILL. On the 23 June 1801, after a 
vacancy of five years, Rev. John Clark was in- 
stalled, for one half his time, and on 20 April 
1803, he was released. In 1807 there were about 
seventeen members. 

On 7 June 1808, Rev. Daniel Crane was re- 
ceived from the "Presbytery of New York," and 
on the 9 June he was installed. 

On 9 Sept. 1 81 9, Rev. Messrs. Johnson, Hyde 
and Fisk were appointed a committee to visit the 
congregation at Fishkill on the 28th inst. and en- 
deavor to redress their grievances. On 23 Oct. 
this committee was instructed to report to the 
"Presbytery of North River" provided the Synod 
constitute that Presbytery, which they did that 
same day. The subsequent history of the Fishkill 
Church must therefore be traced in the records of 
that Presbytery. 

5. FLORIDA. 6. WARWICK. Rev. John 
Joline "quit preaching in Warwick in 1798." In 
April 1802, the Florida congregation petitioned* 
Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral relation of Mr. 
Joline, and Mr. Joline as definitely declined to 
concur in the request. Both parties were cited to 



Petition on file. 



4-0 HIS-TORY OF 

appear at the next meeting in September, when 
Presbytery dissolved the relation on the condition 
that the congregation pay up the arrearages in 
salary and continue the salary with free use of the 
parsonage for eight months. Mr. Joline died in 
December of that year. The pulpit was declared 
vacant and supplies were appointed, f 

About this time the Warwick people attempted 
to form an organization which should be called 
" The Dutch Reformed and Presbyterian Church 
of Warwick," in which Presbyterian Trustees 
would hold the property and a Dutch Consistory 
care for the spiritual interests of the people. This of 
course could have no ecclesiastical recognition, but 
it seems to have proved a successful device to allay 
local strife and insure the organization of a Dutch 
Reformed Church by the " Classis of Paramus," 
9 Jan. 1804. And yet so crude were their ideas 
of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, that a letter on file 
among the papers of Presbytery shows that "the 
Consistory and Trustees, in the year 1809, ap- 
plied, in behalf of church and congregation of 
Warwick, to this Presbytery for supplies, ' ' naively 
requesting ' ' that they be not sent on the Sabbaths 
supplied by the Reverend Classis. ' ' In response to 
this request Presbytery continued to send supplies 
until Aug. 181 1. 

On 25 April 1804, Florida and Amity had leave 
to prosecute a call for Mr. Charles Cummins 



f Min. of Presb. Vol. I, pps. 172, 187 and 188. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 4 1 

before the "Presbytery of New Castle," each for 
one-half his time, both of which calls were declined. 
Four years later, however, on 5 Sept. 1808, Rev. 
Charles Cummins, having accepted a call from 
Florida, was received from the ' ' Presbytery of 
New Castle," and on the 21 of that month was 
installed ; a relationship that continued until 30 
April 1839, when it was dissolved by the Presby- 
tery, at his request. 

7. FRANKLIN. — This church appears to have 
been vacant since 1789. 

The first official act of the ' ' Presbytery of Hud- 
son," however, had declared that it still existed, 
and supplies were accordingly furnished from time 
to time. On 25 April 1804, they requested a supply 
' ' to preach and to ordain elders. ' ' On 1 9 April 
1805, an admonitory letter was addressed to them, 
for having employed a preacher from Europe with- 
out consulting the Presbytery. This letter refers 
to " the eldership of that church," showing that 
the request of the year before had been complied 
with. They submitted to the reproof, and two 
years later Rev. John McNice, the minister in 
question, presented satisfactory proof of his having 
been ordained in Ireland, in 1797, by the "Pres- 
bytery of Ballymena," and he was appointed 
Stated Supply for six months. This church had 
at that time thirty-three members. 

On 7 April 1708, Rev. Herman Dagget was 
appointed to supply the Franklin Church, and on 
19 April 1809, he was received from the " Presby- 



42 HISTORY OF 

tery of Long Island " and became Stated Supply at 
Franklin until April 1814. 

Supplies were then regularly appointed until 8 
Sept. 1 81 9, when the church of Patterson received 
permission to employ Rev. Abner Brundage as Stated 
Supply. In 1816 the name "Franklin " had dis- 
appeared and the name ' ' Patterson ' ' had taken its 
place, with no explanation. It is only by reference 
to the act of the Legislature, which in 1808, 
changed the name of the town from Franklin to 
Patterson, that we can satisfactorily account for 
the substitution on the records of Presbytery. 
The identity of these churches is further estab- 
lished, by the fact that the resolution to divide the 
Presbytery, adopted Oct. 181 9, provides that "the 
new Presbytery, east of the river should hold its 
first meeting in the Church of Patterson," where 
we have seen the old "Presbytery of Dutchess" 
had been merged into the " Presbytery of Hudson" 
twenty-four years before. This church passes from 
our records in charge of a committee, appointed at 
their request, ' ' to give them assistance and advice 
in conducting the business of the church."* 

8. WAIyLKILIv (or Goodwill). —The forty years 
pastorate of Rev. Andrew King was terminated by 
his death, 15 Nov. 18 15. In Aug. of the next 
year a call was presented for the services of the 
Rev. William Gray, and leave was asked to prose- 
cute the call before the ' ' Presbytery of New York, ' ' 



* Min. of Presb. Vol. 4, p. 139. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 43 

of which he was a member. A vigorous protest 
was also presented. Presbytery refused to grant 
permission. The protestants appealed to Synod, 
and their appeal was sustained : whereupon the 
Presbytery appealed to the General Assembly 
which reversed the decision of Synod and sus- 
tained the Presbytery. 

In Sept. 1816, Presbytery resolved that the name 
"GOODWILL" be hereafter the name by which 
the congregation of ' Wallkill ' shall be known," 
inasmuch as that is their corporate name. 

In Sept. 1 81 7, the session petitioned Presbytery 
' ' to afford them relief from the labours of the Rev. 
William Gray who occupied their pulpit without 
their permission. ' ' Whereupon the Presbytery re- 
quested the ' ' Presbytery of New York ' ' to prevent 
Mr. Gray from ' ' laboring in the bounds of the con- 
gregation of Goodwill. ' ' 

On 17 Feb. 1818, at a special meeting another 
call for Mr. Gray, and a similar protest, signed by 
fifty persons, were presented, with another refusal 
on the part of Presbytery. 

At the April meeting a long letter was received 
from the friends of Mr. Gray threatening to with- 
draw from connection with Presbytery. A com- 
mittee was appointed to visit the congregation, and 
endeavor to unite the contestants. The minority 
refused to yield and the majority would not relin- 
quish the purpose to settle Mr. Gray, and Presby- 
tery declared it disorderly for the congregation to 



44 HISTORY OF 

employ him.* In Sept. the threat to withdraw 
was formally ' ' vacated and recalled. " At the 
same meeting leave was given to prosecute a call 
npon Mr. John R. Crane, a licentiate of the ' ' Pres- 
bytery of Jersey," to become their pastor. In 
April 1 819, another formal call for Mr. Gray and 
another emphatic protest were presented, to which 
the Presbytery again gave a distinct disapproval. 
Notice was promptly given of appeal to Synod. 
Presbytery appointed the first Monday in June, as 
a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer, and sent 
a committee of three ministers to conduct the re- 
ligious services at Goodwill on that day. This period 
of their history closes with these parties unrecon- 
ciled, the pulpit vacant, the doors locked against 
the Presbyterial supplies — to be opened only at the 
mandate of the civil court — with a schism in the 
congregation apparently inevitable. 

9. GOSHEN. —The thirty-eight years pastorate 
of Rev. Nathan Ker at Goshen, terminated with 
his death, 14 Dec. 1804. 

On 19 Nov. 1805, Rev. Isaac Lewis was received 
from the "Presbytery of Oneida," and on 1 Jan. 
1806, was installed. On 1 July 1812, his pastoral 
relation was dissolved; and on 25 Oct. he was 
dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of New York. ' ' 

On 20 April 1814, Rev. Ezra Fisk was received 
from the ' ' Presbytery of Harmony ' ' and .the next 
day was duly installed, commencing a pastorate 



Min. of Presb. Vol. 4, p. 31. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 45 

which continued until 11 Sept 1833, when he re- 
signed his pastoral charge to accept the Professor- 
ship of Ecclesiastical History, in Western Theo- 
logical Seminary, at Alleghany, Penn. Mr. Fisk 
began his ministry in the church edifice which was 
commenced during the pastorate of Rev. Isaac 
Lewis and which stood for fifty-nine years. 

10. HOPEWELL.— The pastoral relation of 
the Rev. Jonathan Freeman to the Hopewell 
Church was dissolved 17 April 1798. On 29 June 
1803, Mr. Isaac VanDoren was ordained and in- 
stalled. His ministry was one of great usefulness, 
and he was cheered by a revival of unwonted power 
and extent. He remained at this post of minis- 
terial duty until 20 April 1825, when he was 
released and dismissed to the " Presbytery of 
Newark. ' ' 

11. NEW WINDSOR. 12. NEWBURGH.— 
After the termination of the ministry of Rev. John 
Close, the church at Newburgh made out a call 
for Mr. Isaac Lewis, Jr. , of the ' ' Western Asso- 
ciation of Fairfield, Conn.," 18 April 1798. In 
Sept. he produced a certificate of ordination 
from that body and became a member of this 
Presbytery. He probably served the Newburgh 
Church as pastor-elect ; for, on 4 Sept. 1799, he 
returned their call and took a dismission to the 
' ' Presbytery of Albany. ' ' 

On 5 May 1801, Mr. Jonathan Freeman was in- 
stalled at Newburgh and New Windsor. His 
pastorate at Newburgh ceased 25 April 1804, and 



46 HISTORY OF 

he remained pastor of New Windsor alone, until 
18 April 1805, when he was released and dismissed 
to the "Presbytery of Philadelphia."* 

On 20 Nov. 1805, Mr. Eliezer Burnet was ordained 
and installed pastor of these united churches. In 
just one year his pastorate was terminated by 
death, 22 Nov. 1806. 

On 5 Aug. 1807, Mr. John Johnston was ordained 
and installed over these churches, and on 6 Nov. 
1 8 10, he was released from New Windsor and 
made pastor for all his time in Newburgh. This 
phrase ' ' all his time, ' ' seems appropriate, inas- 
much as Mr. Johnston continued pastor of this 
church forty-eight years. An illustration of the 
way Home Missionary work was done in those 
days, is afforded by a single incident in Mr. John- 
ston's career. On 4 Sept. 181 1, a letter was 
received from " a new congregation, to be known 
by the style of ' the Presbyterian Church of the 
Cookhouse Settlement,' requesting to be taken 
under the care of this Presbytery." Presbytery 
promised "all the assistance in their power," and 
in April 18 12, the Committee of Missions "re- 
ported that they had employed Rev. Henry Ford 
for three weeks and Rev. Messrs. Johnston and 
Noah Coe for two weeks each, to itinerate on the 
Western side of the Shawangunk Mountain." 
Mr. Johnston made this ' ' outing ' ' between Octo- 
ber and April on horseback, riding sixty miles to 



* Min. Presb. Vol. 1, p. 275. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 47 

the Delaware, fording it, and continuing fifty 
miles further to Cookhouse, Tompkins Township, 
Delaware County, preaching there and at several 
other places. "Cookhouse" afterward became 
the ' ' first church of Tompkins, ' ' and is now the 
"Church of Deposit," in the "Presbytery of 
Binghamton " with two hundred and twenty- 
four members. It was headquarters for lumber- 
men who here reconstructed their rafts for the run 
to Philadelphia, and clubbed together to employ a 
cook for their accommodation.* Supplies were 
sent to preach ' ' at the Cookhouse ' ' the first Sab- 
bath in June and the second Sabbath in Aug. 
1815. 

13. PITTSBURGH. 14. PLEASANT VAL- 
LEY. Rev. John Clark was installed at Pleasant 
Valley 24 June 1801. On 20 April 1803, he ac- 
cepted a call to Pittsburgh. His installation, 
however, did not take place until the first Tuesday 
in Sept. 1805. His relation to these united 
churches was severed 25 Jan. 1806, and on the 
same day he was dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of 
Philadelphia." In two years he was recalled and 
5 Oct. 1808, installed at Pleasant Valley, where he 
continued until Sept. 1829. During the two years 
of his absence, a remarkable revival of religion 
began, and continued some time after his return. 
Ninety-five persons united with the church and as 
many more with neighboring churches. The 



Rev. J. S. Patteiiinll. 



48 HISTORY OF 

church at the time enjoyed only occasional sup- 
plies of preaching, but the elders and members of 
the church carried on the meetings. It was not 
uncommon for persons under conviction to become 
insensible and fall to the floor. Again in 1812, 
one hundred and three were received into the 
communion of the church : and the meeting house 
was enlarged at an expense of $2,500. 

During all this time the church of Pittsburgh 
is not mentioned except as receiving occasional 
supplies. But in April 181 3 a letter was received 
from that church stating ' ' that they were able to 
support a pastor and wished so to be recognized on 
the records of Presbytery." "On 5 Aug. 1814, 
thirty persons, whose names are on record, were 
dismissed for the purpose of forming a separate 
organization at Pittsburgh ;" and on 7 Sept. 1814, 
commissioners, one of whom was enrolled as an 
elder, reported ' ' that a church had lately been or- 
ganized at Pittsburgh." Evidently this was a 
reorganization of the old church. Supplies were 
furnished for a few Sabbaths at nearly every stated 
meeting of Presbytery until April 181 9, when Rev. 
Eliphalet Price was appointed Stated Supply for 
one-half his time at Pittsburgh. 

15. SALEM. — After the release of Rev. Solo- 
mon Mead from his long pastorate of forty-eight 
years, 4 Sept. 1800, supplies were appointed for 
two years ; when,- 7 Sept. 1802, Rev. Robert 
Chapman of the ' ' Presbytery of New York ' ' was 
appointed Stated Supply. A call was presented to 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 49 

Mr. Chapman the next April, which he declined. 
On 28 Nov. 1804, Rev. John Ely was installed. 
On 10 Dec. 181 1, the congregation asked a dis- 
solution of the pastoral relation on the ground of 
their " inability to raise the stipulated salary with- 
out endangering the safety of the Society." Mr. 
Ely concurred in the request and the relationship 
was dissolved. The next year Mr. Charles F. 
Butler, a licentiate of the ' ' Association of the 
Eastern District of Fairfield," was appointed Stated 
Siipply, and was in charge at the close of this 
period. 

16. UNION — Continued under the pastoral care 
of Rev. Jehu Minor until his death, which occurred 
5 July 1808. On the 22 April 1809, Presbytery 
regretfully dismissed that church at their own re- 
quest, to place themselves under the care of the 
" Eastern Consociation of Fairfield County." Not- 
withstanding this, the Union Church continued to 
send its annual Statistical Report to Presbytery. 
The membership of sixty -three in 1809, was in- 
creased to 119 in 1817. Evidently there remained 
strong Presbyterian sympathies and a very decided 
Presbyterian influence in the old South East 
Church. 



CHAPTER V. 

CHURCHES ADDED TO THE ROI.I, IN THIS PERIOD. 

To these sixteen original churches, no fewer 
than twenty-eight were received under the care of 
Presbytery up to Oct. 1819. The histories of these, 
in the order of their reception, are as follows : 

1. NEW TOWN.— On 20 April 1790, the 
church of New Town, Tioga County, requested to 
be taken under the care of Presbytery. A pledge 
was given ' ' to afford all the supplies and assistance 
in their power. ' ' Although there is no subsequent 
reference to this remote organization further than 
that " Mr. Ker was directed to transmit a copy of 
this minute and express to the church at New 
Town the friendly intentions ' ' of Presbytery, it is 
worthy of notice, inasmuch as it shows the wide 
extent of territory that looked to this Presbytery 
for aid and sympathy in those early days. 

2. SCOTCHTOWN.— A Presbyterian congre- 
gation was formed in 1796, and a meeting house 
was built in 1797.* 

On 19 April 1798, "Jacob Mills and George 
Houston requested that a Presbyterian church in 
the Town of Wallkill which had lately erected a 
house for public worship might be taken under the 
care of Presbytery and have supplies appointed 



Rev. David Beattie. 
(SO) 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 5 1 

them." On 17 April 1799 commissioners from 
" the new church in the Town of Wallkill " asked 
that Rev. Methuselah Baldwin might be appointed 
their supply "one-third of his time" until the 
next meeting of Presbytery. This request was 
granted and other supplies were also appointed. 
On 3 Sept. 1800, "Mr. Baldwin at the new church 
half his time." On 22 April 1802, the new church 
is for the first time called "Scotchtown." On 21 
April 1803, Mr. Baldwin accepted a call from this 
church and was installed on 30 June. The ec- 
clesiastical organization seems to have been per- 
fected on the same day by the ordination of 
elders. Mr. Baldwin continued pastor of this 
church until after the close of this period. 

3. CHESTER.— Under the preaching of Rev. 
Silas Constant a congregation was gathered and a 
church lot was secured as early as March 1783.* 
Two other meeting houses, each on a different 
site, have since been erected. 

On the 14 Nov. 1798, "a number of people in 
Chester, who had lately builded a house for public 
worship, desired to be considered under the care of 
Presbytery and to have supplies." No other in- 
formation is at hand concerning this church, until 
18 April 1809, when the " Trustees of the congre- 
gation of Chester applied to Presbytery for 
supplies. ' ' 

These were sent for fourteen Sabbaths in the 
next two years. Again, on 17 April 181 1, the 
* Rev. D. N. Freeland. 



52 HISTORY OF 

congregation asked " to be taken under the care of 
Presbytery, reserving their usual form of govern- 
ment until they see their way clear to adopt the 
Sessional mode." At the same time a call was 
presented for Mr. Noah Coe, a licentiate of ' ' the 
Eastern Association of New Haven County." 
Mr. Coe was ordained and installed 2 July 181 1. 

In April 1813, "the church and congregation, 
by a public vote, adopted the Presbyterian mode 
of church government. " f 

In Sept. of the same year, Mr. Coe's pastoral 
relation was dissolved, and one year later he was 
dismissed to the "Presbytery of Oneida." Oh 11 
Oct. 1 814, Mr. James H. Thompson was ordained 
and installed ; a relationship which existed 
twelve years and six months, Mr. Thompson 
being released at his own request 18 April 1827. 

4. CROMPOND, or YORK TOWN.— Tradi- 
tion says ' ' a congregation was formed at Crompond 
as early as 1730, and was housed in 1738." The 
leased lot on which the new meeting house stood, 
was deeded " for the use of a Presbyterian congre- 
gation only" on 2 Jan. 1739. Rev. Samuel 
Sacket preached there in 1742, and after his set- 
tlement in Bedford in 1743, he supplied Crompond 
one-fourth of his fime from 19 May 1747, until 
6 Dec. 1749. In 1753, he was called to "Hanover" 
and settled there until 24 Oct. 1761, when he was 



t Min. of Presb. Vol. 3, p. 17. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 53 

installed at "Crompond," where he died 5 June 
1784, aged seventy-two years.* 

In June 1779, British troops burned storehouse, 
parsonage and church. 

The church was rebuilt in the summer of 1785. 

Rev. Silas Constant began to preach here on 3 
Nov. 1785, and was installed a year later, by a 
council, at his own special request. His ministry 
continued twenty years, f 

A committee, by request to Presbytery from 
thirty-three members of a Presbyterian congrega- 
tion formerly under the ' ' Presbytery of Dutchess, ' ' 
was sent to Yorktown in 1806. They reported on 
3 Sept. , ' ' that old congregation in a broken and 
divided state, ' ' and ' ' considered it the duty of 
Presbytery to pay due attention to the Presbyte- 
rians found there. Rev. Ebenezer Grant was 
appointed to preach in York Town the third Sab- 
bath in October, to preside in the choice of elders, 
ordain them if he think proper and administer the 
L,ord's Supper." 

On 7 June 1808, Mr. Andrew Thompson was 
ordained and installed ; on 20 April 181 4, his 
pastoral relation was dissolved, he having ac- 
cepted a call from the church of Greenbush. Sup- 
plies were regularly furnished by Presbytery until 
21 Oct. 1818, when licentiate Robert G. Arm- 
strong was appointed Stated Supply. While there, 
however, he accepted a call from Pine Plains, for 



* Baird's History of Bedford Church, p. 58. 

t Rev. W. J. Cumming, 1876. History of York Town Church. 



54 HISTORY OF 

one half his time, and was ordained and installed 
at that place on 10 June 1819, leaving the church 
of York Town with twenty-four members, "to be 
supplied."! 

5. WESTTOWN. — The preaching occasionally 
enjoyed in this " oldest settlement in Mini- 
sink " began to bear fruit 26 Jan. 1790, in 
the regular election of a Board of Trustees 
for the ' ' Presbyterian Society in and about 
Westtown," under the "Presbytery of Mor- 
ris County." This effort appears to have 
come to naught. On 10 March 1803, the 
people of Westtown met and incorporated ' ' the 
First Presbyterian Church (of the old Presbyterian 
order) of Westtown, ' ' and subscriptions were 
started for a meeting house, which by July 1805, 
amounted to $1,733.50. 

On 19 Aug. 1805, the " Presbyterian congrega- 
tion of Westtown" was incorporated. Rev. D. C. 
Niven, in his local history, does not attempt any 
other distinction between these apparently rival 
corporations. The meeting house was inclosed 
before winter 1806, but was for some months in 
an unfinished condition. The pews were sold in 
the fall of 1807. On 4 Sept. 1806, " the Society 
of Westtown was taken under the care of Presby- 
tery ' ' and supplies were furnished. * On 8 Jan. 
1809, the church was regularly organized by the 
ordination of Ruling Elders, and on 9 Feb. Rev. 

X Min. Presb. Vol. 11, pp. 18, 24. 
* Min. of Presb. Vol. il, p. 21. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 55 

Thomas Grier was installed as the first pastor. 
His labors were greatly blessed. One hundred 
and three persons were received into the com- 
munion of the church in 1815, and fifty-seven in 
1 81 6, all on examination. Mr. Grier' s pastorate 
extended to 12 Sept. 1827, and was graced by 
another wonderful outpouring of the Spirit in the 
Fall of 1820, resulting in the addition of one 
hundred and ninety-four on profession of their 
faith in Christ. 

6. WAPPING'S CREEK.— On 6 Sept. 1809, 
"the First Presbyterian Church of Wapping's 
Creek " in the Town of Poughkeepsie, was placed 
upon the roll of churches. On 5 Sept. 1811, Rev. 
Eliphalet Price was installed. His pastoral rela- 
tion was dissolved 2 Sept. 1818 ; but on 21 of the 
next April he was recalled "for one-half his 
time" and was again installed 1 July 1819. The 
other half of his time was employed as Stated 
Supply of the reorganized church of Pittsburgh, f 

7. AMITY.— On 5 Sept. 1799, "the Presby- 
terian Church in Amity petitioned Presbytery for 
advice and assistance respecting their organiza- 
tion," and that supplies might be sent them. 
Their request was promptly complied with and 
supplies appointed. 

On 21 Sept. 1801, "Mr. Benjamin Prime, a licen- 
tiate of the ' South Association of Litchfield, ' was 
appointed to supply the Church of Amity one-half 



t Ibid. Vol. iv, p. 95, and Vol. v, p. 68. 



56 HISTORY OF 

his time, with permission to spend the other half 
in any of our vacant churches where Providence 
shall open a door." 

The joint call with the Florida Church upon 
Mr. Charles Cummins, April 1804, has already been 
referred to. On 6 Sept. 1809, Mr. Daniel C. Hop- 
kins, a licentiate of the "Presbytery of New 
York," was received. J A commissioner from 
Amity ' ' requested the Presbytery to organize a 
church among them on or before the first Tuesday 
in October. " § On 4 Oct. the church was organized 
by the ordination of two to the office of ruling elder 
and deacon, and a third to the office of ruling 
elder ; Mr. Hopkins was then ordained and in- 
stalled. His pastoral relation was dissolved on 27 
Jan. 1818. 

On 9 June 181 9, Mr. William Timlow was 
ordained and installed, and took his seat as a 
member of Presbytery. 

8. MARLBOROUGH. 9. NEWPALTZ.— On 
8 Aug. 1763, a subscription was started for build- 
ing a meeting house in Marlborough. Land was 
given, the deed for which should be void if any 
minister not in the "Presbyterian faith" should 
be settled. On 1 Jan. 1764, Trustees were chosen. 
A building thirty-five b}' twenty-five, was so far 
completed by 26 Aug. as to be used, and the first 
sermon in it was delivered that day. Early in 
1766 they secured the services of the Rev Abner 

J Ibid. Vol. 1, pps. 103, 159 and 243. 

\ Ibid. Vol. 11, p. 169, and Vol. 11, p. 115. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 57 

Brush, just resigned from Goshen, who supplied 
them for several years. 

Rev. John Mecallah began to preach, half his 
time at Marlborough and half at Newburgh, on 22 
Sept. 1773 ; which was eleven years before a 
society was legally incorporated at either New- 
burgh or Marlborough. After the War of the 
Revolution, $400 was subscribed to support a min- 
ister one year, "no Baptist or Separate minister to 
be allowed to preach, under any pretense what- 
ever." Rev. Ethan Osborn came in 1786, and 
supplied them, preaching at the same time at 
Paltz, until 1792. On 22 Nov. 1792, the "Morris 
County Presbytery ' ' ordained and installed the first 
pastor Mr. Abel Jackson, and a year after, in spite 
of the forfeit named in the deed, organized a 
church of eight members. Mr. Jackson remained 
pastor until 1799, and no one cared to contest the 
title to the church property. For ten years the 
pulpit was vacant, with infrequent supplies. On 
18 April 1 810, they were at their own request re- 
ceived under the care of Presbytery, the congrega- 
tion of New Paltz joining in the request. On 12 
Sept. 1 810, Mr. James I. Ostrom was ordained and 
installed pastor of these united churches. In Oct. 
181 1, a remarkable revival and ingathering of souls 
was witnessed at Marlborough, no fewer than 116 
being received into the communion of that church, 
while at New Paltz, under the same ministry and 
but six miles distant, there was no special interest. 



58 HISTORY OF 

Mr. Ostrom remained pastor at New Paltz until 
1827, an d at Marlborough until 1829.* 

10. LIBERTY. — The seed sown by mission- 
aries of Presbytery, west of the Shawangunk 
Mountains, was not lost. Mr. Daniel C. Hopkins, 
who had been assigned to missionary duty for two 
months, organized the church at Liberty, f 

On 5 Sept. 1810, "The First Presbyterian 
Church of the Town of Liberty" requested to be 
taken under the care of Presbytery and to have 
supplies sent them. Presbytery received them 
promising all the assistance in their power. Sup- 
plies were regularly appointed at every meeting 
of Presbytery for many years. There is an entry 
in the original Session Book, dated 4 June 181 5, 
and signed by Rev. John Boyd. Several hopeful 
conversions were reported that year, and the total 
of communicants was twenty-four. 

11. COCHECTON.— On 4 Sept. 1811, a num- 
ber of inhabitants of Cochecton asked for supplies. 
On 9 March 181 2, "The Presbyterian Society of 
Cochecton" was incorporated. On 1 July 181 2, 
they were taken under the care of Presbytery. On 
22 August, the church was organized with fifteen 
members. Supplies were furnished at every meet- 
ing of Presbytery up to April 181 7 ; but not again 
until April 1820. 

1 2. UNION CHURCH— In the Town of Beek- 
man, Dutchess County, on 21 April 181 2, request- 

* Centennial Discourse. Rev. Samuel H. Jagger. 
f Min. of Presb. Vol. n, p. 228. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 59 

ed supplies for the second and fourth Sabbaths of 
each month, and also that Rev. Bliphalet Price 
might be so appointed. Their request was com- 
plied with. 

13. SMITHFIELD.— On 20 April 1814, "The 
United Congregational Church of Smithfield ' ' re- 
quested to be taken under the care of Presbytery, 
" reserving their form of government ; " their re- 
quest was granted. This Church furnished one 
candidate for the ministry, Mr. George W. Gale, 
who was licensed with Phinehas Camp and Samuel 
Pelton, 6 Sept. 1816.* 

14. SOMERS.— At the same meeting, "The 
Presbyterian Union Society of Somers" requested 
supplies, and they were furnished at three suc- 
cessive meetings of Presbytery. 

15. GREENBUSH.— The Greenbush Church 
was organized 18 Oct. 181 2, in Orange Town, 
Rockland County, by Rev. Eliphalet Price, with 
ten members, who worshipped in the Acad- 
emy until their meeting house was built, in 1823. 
Supplies were furnished by Presbytery until, on 15 
June 1 81 4, Rev. Andrew Thompson, having de- 
clined a call from the Pittsburgh Church, was in- 
stalled. His pastorate continued nineteen years 
lacking twelve days. 

16. PLEASANT VALLEY. (West.)— On 8 
Sept. 18 13, " The first Presbyterian Congregation 
of Pleasant Valley," Ulster County, about six 



* Min. of Presb. Vol. in, pps. 145-6. 



60 HISTORY OF 

miles west of Marlborough, requested to be takeu 
under the care of Presbytery and to have supplies. 
The Presbytery received them and furnished sup- 
plies for many years. This organization never 
had a pastor. 

17. AMENIA NORTH. 18. AMENIA 
SOUTH.— On 19 April 1815, "The Church and 
Society of Amenia ' ' and the ' ' South Presbyterian 
Church and Society of Union, ' ' were both received 
under the care of the Presbytery, and calls upon 
Rev. Joel Osborn for "one-third" to one, and for 
" two-thirds of his time " to the other, were put in 
his hands. On 28 June following, he was installed 
pastor of those united churches.* Mr. Osborn's 
relation to the North congregation of Amenia was 
dissolved on 21 Oct. 18 18, and supplies were ap- 
pointed. 

These churches were formed in 1748, and in 
1749, respectively. Mr. Osborn was received from 
the ' ' Fairfield East Association, ' ' Conn. , on the 
preceding April, and could not have been ' ' or- 
dained pastor of the Amenia South, in 181 5 by 
the Associated Presbytery of Westchester," as is 
stated on p. 13 of Mr. Wight's Historical Sketch 
of ' ' North River Presbytery. ' ' 

19. PEEKSKILL.— In April 1815, the Pres- 
byterian congregation of Peekskill was taken 
under the care of Presbytery, and supplies were 
sent them at three succeeding meetings. 



* Min. of Presb. Vol. in, p. 156. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 6 1 

20. NYACK. — The Christian people in Nyack 
for a number of years held their religious meetings 
in a School House ; and when the Greenbush 
Church was organized some habitually went over 
the mountain to their more commodious academy. 
In 1 81 5, they determined to build themselves a 
house of worship, which they did the next year, 
upon the same lot "where the present church 
stands, " and on 8 April 181 6, "The Presbyterian 
Society of Nyack ' ' was taken under the care of 
Presbytery. Rev. Andrew Thompson was pastor 
of the united churches of Greenbush and Nyack, 
preaching for a number of years in Nyack one- 
quarter of his time and afterward more frequently, f 

21. RIDGEBURY.— On 17 April 18 16, a 
communication from the congregation at Ridge- 
bury, requesting supplies, was received. Their 
request was granted. This congregation was 
organized on 10 July 1792, with eighteen mem- 
bers, by Rev. Messrs. Benoni Bradner and Isaac 
Sergeant. They adopted the title of "The First 
Presbyterian Church of Ridgebury," but were 
Congregational in government, under the "Asso- 
ciated Presbytery of Morris county." Rev. Isaac 
Sergeant was the first pastor, and his remains lie in 
the village cemetery, which he himself had pre- 
sented to the congregation. 

During a period of twenty-five years they had 
reached a total membership of ninety-two. Of 



t Local History. Hon. Seth B. Cole. 



62 HISTORY OF 

these, fifty persons, on 5 July 18 17, at a meeting 
called for the purpose, Resolved, ' ' To adopt the 
Confession of Faith and Form of Government of 
the Presbyterian Church, and to place themselves 
under the care of the Presbytery of Hudson. ' ' On 

19 July, they elected elders who were ordained on 
30 Aug., by Rev. William Blain. 

On 2 Sept. 1 81 7, they represented themselves 
as "having become in all respects a regular 
organized Presbyterian Congregation." They 
were taken under the care of Presbytery and Mr. 
Jonathan Bailey took his seat as an elder. On 3 
Sept. they presented a call upon Rev. William 
Blain, who, one year before had been installed at 
Deer Park, " to be their pastor one-half his time." 
He accepted their call and was installed on 30 
Sept. 1817. 

22. BLOOMING GROVE.— This congregation 
was formed about the year 1750 by colonists from 
Long Island. Their first house of worship was 
erected in 1759. Their first pastor, Rev. Enos 
Ayres, was succeeded by Rev. Abner Reeve in 
1764. In 1770, Rev. Amaziah Lewis became 
pastor. Rev. Benoni Bradner was his successor, 
being settled somewhere about 1790, and continu- 
ing until 1802. In 1 810, Rev. Noah Crane was 
received from the " Presbytery of Jersey," and on 

20 Aug. 181 1, Presbytery held a special meeting 
at Blooming Grove Church, and deposed him from 
the ministry for the confessed crime of adultery.* 

* Min. of Presb. Vol. 11, p. 220. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 63 

In Jan. 1812, Mr. William Rafferty, a licentiate of 
a foreign Presbytery, was received as a proba- 
tioner, and was granted permission to labor in 
Blooming Grove, f In 181 3, Presbytery was re- 
quested to ordain Mr. Rafferty, and out of defer- 
ence to the objections of twenty- three members of 
the congregation, not to proceed to installation. 
Presbytery acceded to their request and on 22 
June, he was ordained "sine tifitlo." On 17 
April 18 1 6, Mr. Rafferty was dismissed to the 
" Presbytery of Philadelphia." On 6 Aug. 181 6, 
the congregation of Blooming Grove requested to 
be taken under the care of Presbytery, with the 
reservation of their form of government. Their 
request was granted, and the next day Mr. Luther 
Halsey was ordained and installed their pastor. 

23. HAVERSTRAW, FIRST.— The first 
Presbyterian Church of Haverstraw had its origin 
in the solemn written covenant of the principal 
English residents of Haverstaw, Stony Point and 
Clarkstown, to pay certain sums yearly and every 
year for the preaching of the gospel, etc., dated 
19 May 1781. 

In 1789, it was resolved to build a meeting 
house. The deed for a church lot, bearing date 
17 Aug. 1789, finely executed on parchment, is 
still extant, reserving ' ' seven feet square inside 
the church, and sixteen feet square in the grave- 
yard," for the donor, the property to revert to the 



t lb. Vol. in, p. 41. 



64 HISTORY OF 

heirs when no longer used for church purposes. A 
wooden meeting house, forty feet square, was 
erected in 1790, and was used as a church for 
fifty-seven years. Another document still extant, 
dated 25 March 1809, gives the Baptist congrega- 
tion of Haverstraw the privilege of using the 
building half the time on condition that they re- 
pair it. The first resident English minister in the 
town was Rey. Robert Burns, who bought a farm 
in 1775. His tomb-stone still, stands and tells the 
passer-by that he died 22 Nov. 1791, aged eighty- 
four. For many years the church had only 
such supplies as it could get from Sabbath to Sab- 
bath. This church and that of Kakiate, or New 
Hempstead, belonged to the " Presbytery of Jersey, " 
and both were received on certificate from that 
Presbytery, 18 Feb. 181 7 ;* on that day also Mr. 
Samuel Pelton, having been licensed 6 April 1816, 
was ordained and installed pastor of these united 
churches, a relation which continued twenty- 
three years. 

24. POUGHKEEPSIE.— On 16 April 1817, 
' ' Peter Lewis laid before Presbytery a certified 
copy of the act of incorporation of a congregation 
in the Village of Poughkeepsie styled ' ' The First 
Presbyterian Church in the Village of Poughkeep- 
sie," and requested in behalf of said congregation 
" that they be taken under the care of this Presby- 
tery. Their request was granted. ' ' f 

■■ Min. of Presb. Vol. in, p. 321. 
t Ibid. Vol. in, p. 343. 



HUDSON PRKSBYTERY. 65 

25. PINE PLAINS— .On 3 Sept 1818, the con- 
gregation of Pine Plains was taken under the care of 
Presbytery. On 2 1 Oct. Mr. Robert G. Armstrong 
was appointed Stated Supply, and on 30 June 
1 81 9, he was ordained and installed. 

26. MONTICELLO.— Supplies were appointed 
for Monticello at every stated meeting of Presbytery 
from April 1807, until Sept. 1819, without excep- 
tion. Twenty-three different ministers were ap- 
pointed : Mr. Cummins and Mr. Grier each eleven 
times ; Mr. Baldwin nine times ; Mr. Rafferty five 
times ; Mr. VanDoren four times ; and Messrs. 
Ostrom, Hopkins and Price each three times. On 
4 Sept. 18 16, leave was given to prosecute a call 
upon licentiate Wells Andrews, before the ' ' Pres- 
bytery of New Brunswick," but Mr. Andrews, who 
had been commissioned to itinerate for one month 
west of the Shawangunk Mountains, did not see 
his way clear to accept it. 

The church was organized with twelve members, 
on 7 Oct. 1 810 ; on which day Rev. Andrew King 
had been appointed to preach, ordain the previously 
elected elders and administer the Lord's Supper. 
The next April, Monticello appears on the list of 
churches, with thirteen members, and in 1816, 
with forty-seven members. In Sept. 181 7, Pres- 
bytery resolved " that Monticello, White Lake and 
Liberty have but one supply each during the next 
six months, and that he should administer the 
Lord's Supper." The first pastor was the Rev. John 
5 



66 HISTORY OF 

Boyd, who was called from the "Presbytery of 
Newton ' ' in April, and installed for one-half his 
time on 6 July 1820. His pastorate closed on 20 
April 1825. 

27. WHITE LAKE.— The early settlers in 
the vicinity of White Lake, were from New Eng- 
land and from Scotland, to whom the school house 
and the church were prime necessities. Though 
chiefly Congregational in sentiment, they resolved, 
25 Dec. 1805, "To be formed into a society of 
worship publicly called Presbyterian." They 
chose trustees and adopted the title of " The White 
Lake Presbyterian Society." 

On the next Christmas 1806, they voted to build 
a house of worship, and fixed its location. On 
Christmas 1807, they reconsidered the matter of 
location, and appointed a committee of seven ' ' to 
stick a stake on the place where to ere<5t a church." 
On 15 Aug. 1808, they voted that " the trustees 
should determine the exact place within four rods 
of a certain marked beech tree." At the next 
annual meeting, 26 Dec. 1808, subscriptions to the 
building were found to have reached the sum of 
$961.67. On 24 April 1809, it was voted, and the 
twenty-five names of the voters were recorded, 
that "the church shall be set, not to exceed four 
rods from the said tree." This was the site occu- 
pied by the present church edifice (dedicated 1 
Feb. 1848,) which took the place of the original 
building. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 6 J 

That first meeting house was inclosed by the 
beginning of the year 1810, but not completed 
until 1828. Supplies were furnished this "So- 
ciety," by Presbytery, once in three months, then 
more frequently, commencing with Rev. Methu- 
selah Baldwin on fourth Sabbath in May 1806. 
On 3 Sept. 1 810, Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins, at a 
meeting called for the purpose, began the organi- 
zation of the ' ' First Presbyterian Church of White 
Lake," by the reception on confession of their 
faith in Christ of eleven persons, who then pro- 
ceeded to elec~l John Sherwood and Abner Hollister 
to the office of Ruling Elder. Rev. Henry Ford 
was appointed ' ' to complete the organization by 
ordaining the elders and administering the Lord's 
Supper," at White Lake on 2 Dec. 1810. The old 
"Session Book" shows that this duty was per- 
formed. The Lord's Supper was on that day first 
administered to the thirteen members of the infant 
church, the newly constituted Session having re- 
ceived two others on examination. For twenty 
years this church was composed of New England 
Congregationalists almost exclusively. It was sup- 
plied by Presbytery from time to time, until 1820, 
when Rev. John Boyd of Monticello spent ' ' one- 
half his time ' ' here. 

28. BETHANY.— As early as 1805, there had 
been occasional preaching in Bethany by Metho- 
dist, Baptist, Presbyterian and Congregational 
ministers. In 1806-7, Hlder Peck of Mount 
Pleasant, visited there once a month, and 



68 HISTORY OF 

in Jan. 1809, he administered the Lord's 
Supper for the first time in the town. On 
10 Sept. 1 810, three lots of the town plot 
were conveyed to Trustees as a site for a house of 
worship and for a burying ground, for the use of the 
inhabitants of the Town of Bethany. On 26 May 
181 3, after a year's services, Rev. Worthington 
Wright of the ' ' Conn. Miss. Society, ' ' was in- 
stalled and served them for two years. By reason 
of personal and domestic affliction he relin- 
quished the ministry. After three years an effort 
was made to call Rev. Gershom Williams, 
but without success. On 26 July 1818, Rev. 
Phinehas Camp began to labor there assisted by 
Rev. Gideon N. Judd, their joint labors resulting 
in several additions to the church. On 22 Sept. 
1818, by Mr. Camp's advice, the " First Presbyte- 
rian Church of Bethany, ' ' was organized with eleven 
members, to whom nineteen more were added a 
few days later. On the 27th, he administered 
the Lord's Supper, and the next day his 
two months' appointment as missionary hav- 
ing expired, he took his leave, f On 9 
June 1 81 9, a supply was sent them, and on 8 
Sept. they were taken under the care of Presby- 
tery. On 23 Oct. they had leave to prosecute a 
call for the Rev. Gershom Williams, before the 
" Presbytery of Jersey," and on 23 Feb. 1820, he 
was installed.* 



* Hist. Wayne Co., Pa., and Min. of Presb. Vol. iv, p. 156. 
t Min. Gen. Assembly, 1818, p. 57. 



CHAPTER VI. 

ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND PERIOD. — EXPANSION 
OF TERRITORY. — INCREASE OF MINISTERS AND 
OF CHURCHES. — EVIDENCES OF A DEEP SENSE 
OF RESPONSIBILITY AS A COURT OF THE CHURCH. 
— PROBABLE NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN THE 
CHURCHES. 

This second period brings the History of Presby- 
tery to the 23 Oct. 1 819. Its territory had extended 
northward to Columbia County on the east of the 
Hudson, and beyond the Shawangunk Mountains 
into Pennsylvania on the west. Its roll of minis- 
ters had increased from eight to twenty-five, and of 
the original eight, Methuselah Baldwin at Scotch- 
town, alone survived. To its sixteen churches 
twenty-eight had been added. Warwick had be- 
come Reformed Dutch ; Union or South-East had 
become Congregational ; Franklin was changed to 
Patterson, Rumbout to Fishkill, and Wallkill to 
Goodwill ; while New Town, in the joy of nearer 
Presbyterial relationship, had forgotten that this 
Presbytery had been asked to care for it, leaving 
FORTY-ONE CHURCHES on the roll. 

Surely if church-extension is evidence of Pres- 
byterial vigor, the vigor of this body was amply 
demonstrated in the addition of a new organization 
in each year. The hopefulness with which this 

(69) 



JO HISTORY OF 

period opened was justified by this state of things 
at its close. 

In reviewing the records of this period the im- 
pression is unavoidable that this Presbytery ever 
acted under A LOFTY SENSE OF ITS RE- 
SPONSIBILITY as a court of the church of 
Christ. This is apparent, 

First — In the jealous guardianship of the moral 
and ministerial character of its members. 

When in April 1800, Mr. Benjamin Prime asked 
Presbytery to receive him as a licentiate, the 
record says ' ' his testimonials were by no means 
satisfactory," and he was not received. On 
2 Sept., he came again with a certificate from the 
' ' South Association of Litchfield, ' ' and renewed 
his application ; but failed again because "his cer- 
tificate was not satisfactory." On 21 April 1801, 
he came with fresh testimonials, and was at last 
received, as a licentiate. (Mr. Prime was after- 
ward supply at Amity and Warwick, and on 29 
June 1803, was ordained and installed at Deer 
Park.) 

When in 1808, Rev. Josiah Henderson, then teach- 
ing in New York City, was suffering under certain 
charges against his moral character, Presbytery, at 
his request, appointed a committee of three minis- 
ters and three elders to go to the city and investi- 
gate the charges. They did so, and at a meeting 
in June presented their report, in which they 
showed the charges to be malicious and completely 
exonerated Mr. Henderson. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 7 1 

When in 1811, a pastor was accused of 
trie crime of adultery, a special meeting 
of Presbytery was called in his church, a 
letter from him in which he admitted his 
guilt, was read, and he was deposed from the 
office of the ministry. Four years later, after the 
most earnest protestations of penitence on his part, 
and with prayerful deliberation on the part of 
Presbytery, he was absolved from the sentence of 
deposition and restored to the office of an ordained 
minister of the Gospel. 

When on 28 Jan. 181 2, Mr. William Rafferty 
first appeared in Presbytery, he presented a certifi- 
cate of licensure from the " Presbytery of Mini- 
ster, "Id. ; a transfer to the ' ' Presbytery of Root, 
Id. ; " a diploma from the college of Glasgow, 
Scotland ; several letters of recommendation from 
respectable clergymen, and a general recommenda- 
tion from the ' ' Presbytery of Root, ' ' to the Pres- 
byterian churches of America ; and these were 
considered satisfactory. He was then examined 
on Experimental Religion, the Learned Lan- 
guages, the Arts and Sciences and Theology. He 
adopted our standards of doctrine and discipline, 
and promised subjection to the Presbytery in the 
Lord : and was then received as a licentiate on pro- 
bation, with leave to labor in Blooming Grove, and 
with instructions to appear for further examination 
in April. 

On 26 Jan. 1813, Mr. Rafferty was directed to 
deliver a sermon that eveninp- from Matt, xxviii : 6. 



72 HISTORY OF 

' ' He is not here : for he has risen, as he said. ' ' 
His examination was continued, and he was directed 
to prepare and deliver at the next stated meeting 
discourses from Ps. lxvi : 16, and from Rom. 
ix : 18. 

On 20 April 181 3, he preached one of these dis- 
courses, and the next day the other, and both 
were sustained as parts of trial for licensure. Then 
the record says : "After having kept Mr. Rafferty 
on trial for fourteen months, and after being satis- 
fied with his performance of the parts of trial 
assigned him, Resolved : That Presbytery apply to 
General Assembly for liberty to receive him in the 
standing of a licentiate." 

Another special meeting was held 22 June, at 
Blooming Grove. A call from that church upon 
Mr. Rafferty, had been laid before Presbytery in 
April, ' ' the General Assembly had granted leave 
to ordain," the church requested Presbytery to 
ordain without installing, and after much delibera- 
tion he was ordained "sine titulo." Here were 
sixteen months of probation, three special meet- 
ings, three trial sermons, with full examinations, 
and no fewer than nineteen pages of the record 
taken up with this case. 

On 28 June 181 5, Mr. Ahab Jenks appeared in 
Presbytery and requested to be received as a mem- 
ber. His credentials were examined and after de- 
liberate consideration Presbytery resolved that his 
request could not be granted. Their reason is 
given in these words : " The body that professed to 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 73 

license and ordain Mr. Jenks, gave no evidence 
that they had themselves received ordination, but 
were a self-created body consisting of Separatists, 
holding to lay ordination and a disorderly congre- 
gational ministry, and had no connection with any 
regular body of Christians."* The next day Mr. 
Jenks declared his renunciation of all claims to be 
acknowledged an ordained minister and requested to 
be taken under the care of Presbytery with a view 
to a regular introduction to the work of the Gospel 
Ministry. His request was granted, and after 
satisfactory examinations and performance of the 
parts of trial, he was duly licensed. That Presby- 
tery ever acted under a lofty sense of its responsi- 
bility is evident, 

Secondly — In devotion to the interests of the 
churches intrusted to its care. Their experience 
with the Church of Bethlehem and Rev. Joel T. 
Benedict, of "Morris County Presbytery," extend- 
ing from 1803 to Oct. 1806, involving a censure 
from Synod, and the issue of a letter of instructions 
to all the vacant churches, has already been refer- 
red to. Their admonitory letters to the Franklin 
Church in 1804 anc ^ I 8°5> respecting the irregular- 
ity of employing a foreign minister, without the 
consent of Presbytery, is another instance. A most 
kindly and yet dignified letter, covering three 
pages of the record, addressed to the Church of 
Warwick, 5 Sept. 1804, on their contemplated in- 



Min. of Presb. Vol. 111, p. 



74 HISTORY OF 

formal departure to the embrace of Classis, is an 
admirable exhibition of paternal solicitude ; re- 
minding one of Hosea's plaintive appeal (xi:8), 
' ' How shall I give thee up Ephraim ? ' ' And 
most remarkable of all is their patient firmness in 
resisting the determination of a majority of the 
people of Goodwill to have Rev. William Gray of 
the "Presbytery of New York," settled as their 
pastor. What is finer than the reply to a com- 
mittee from the ' ' New York Presbytery, ' ' sent to 
ask further information on the subject which for 
over two years had agitated that church and both 
Presbyteries ? Said committee consisted of Rev. 
Gardiner Spring, of the Brick Church, N. Y., and 
Rev. Alexander McClelland, of Rutgers Street 
Church, New York. A committee was appointed 
to confer with them. After a recess that committee 
reported, and Presbytery, Resolved: "That we 
have no further official information to communicate 
on the above subject." 

This consciousness of weighty responsibility 
appears, 

Thirdly — In the frequent and patient hearing of 
appeals, complaints and references from Churches, 
Sessions and individuals. There are many cases 
in which a Session asked leave to excommunicate 
a church member. And before granting leave, 
Presbytery would patiently review all the evidence. 
It appears 

Fourth — In an absence of subserviency to any 
authority, which might be supposed to lighten 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 75 

this responsibility. While the overtures of Synod 
and General Assembly were usually approved and 
adopted, there is one instance in 1811, in which 
Presbytery unanimously resolved, that the rule 
proposed by the Assembly, requiring the consent 
of Synod or of Assembly before proceeding to or- 
dain, sine titulo, ' ' is unnecessary and improper, as 
it would be an infringement on the rights of 
Presbytery. ' ' f 

Fifth — But this sense of responsibility is most 
of all evident, in an Absorbing Devotion to the 
Great Object of its High Calling ; which was to 
' ' Preach the Gospel to every creature. ' ' While 
the theme of Missions has been the inspiration of 
the whole Christian church for the last hundred 
years, it is peculiarly gratifying to find the Spirit 
of Missions prompting the official acls of this Pres- 
bytery from the beginning. It came into being at 
the very time apparently, when ' ' the angel having 
the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that 
dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred 
and tongue and people, " " followed by another 
angel saying Babylon is fallen, is fallen,"* began 
his flight in the midst of heaven. John looked 
from Patmos toward the setting sun as well as to- 
ward the end of the days, when he saw that vision. 
The one wing of the angel fanned the missionary- 
zeal of the church in the Old world, while the other 
kindled the same Christlike consecration in the 



f Min. of Presb. Vol. 11, p. 321. 
* Rev. xiv : 6, 8. 



J 6 HISTORY OF 

New. Three Missionary Societies which have 
since reached the ends of the earth were organized 
in Europe, f and numerous Missionary Societies 
commenced their beneficent career in the New 
world, jnst as Napoleon's humiliation of the papal 
power in 1796, seemed to awaken the cry of the 
other angel, ' ' Babylon is fallen, is fallen ! ' ' Old 
world organizations found their work abroad ; 
those of the New world were themselves abroad 
and their work was all around them. They took 
it up promptly. The Presbytery was itself a Mis- 
sionary Society, and as it rose to a higher plane its 
horizon extended and its field constantly enlarged. 

The germs of present methods of church work 
are found pushing into notice. 

Before the sun set upon its first session, it gave 
life to the church under whose roof it had itself 
but just been born ; and before meridian on the 
morrow the resolution of the Synod of 1789, was 
ordered into execution, "requiring annual collec- 
tions in all the churches whether vacant or not, for 
commissioner's fund, for missionaries and for poor 
students in divinity. ' ' That day £j were paid into 
the treasury, of which u £2. 6s. 8d. were for support- 
ing Missionaries on the frontier. ' ' And the frontier 
then was (on and over) the Shawangunk Moun- 
tains !' 

In 1798, the collections had amounted to ^80. 
15s. 9d. ; in 1809, to $496.12^ ; in 1812, to 



f Church Missionary Society. London Miss. Society, Baptist 
Miss. Society. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 7 7 

$933.58, and at the end of the demoralizing 
war with Great Britain, in 181 5, the treas- 
urer reported the total received from the 
churches since his last report as $1,015.74. In 
this year 181 5, the principle of Systematic 
Beneficence was further developed in the estab- 
lishment of "Female Cent Societies," in the 
churches of New Paltz and Milton and others. One 
sent $7, and the other $7.53 with a letter to Pres- 
bytery requesting its appropriation "in support of 
students for the ministry." The organization of 
these Societies is made a matter for special and 
grateful recognition in the Narrative for that year, 
and a circular letter was adopted and one hundred 
copies printed, addressed "to all the Female Cent 
Societies" in the bounds of Presbytery. In 1817, 
the Cent Society of New Paltz forwarded $11.08 
with a request that it be appropriated to the assist- 
ance of William Timlow, which was done. And 
in 1 81 9, Mr. Fisk was appointed to draft another 
letter for the encouragement of this form of Syste- 
matic Beneficence. 

The importance of the publication and circu- 
lation of religious literature was early 
recognized. In 1803, Presbytery resolved to print 
" Vincent on the Shorter Catechism," and "Les- 
lie's Short and Easy Method with the Deists." 
Bach pastor, and the elders or trustees of each 
vacant church, were "required" to take subscrip- 
tions. In 1805, a thousand copies at fifty cents a 
copy had been subscribed for, and Rev. Andrew 



78 HISTORY OK 

King was appointed ' ' committee on printing. ' ' In 
1806, he announced the books ready for distribu- 
tion ; and in April 1810, he reported them all 
distributed. The Moderator was directed to pre- 
sent the thanks of Presbytery to Mr. King for the 
faithful performance of this duty. - 

No sooner was this done than steps were taken 
to promote the circulation of the Bible. A com- 
mittee was appointed in "Wallkill Church " April 
1 810, which reported in Sept. that "it is of im- 
portance that the Presbytery be formed into a 
society for that purpose." The committee was 
continued and instructed to report a plan in 
November : but it was not until April 1811, that 
the draft of a " Constitution for a Bible Society" 
was presented and approved. ' ' The members of 
Presbytery were recommended to take effectual 
measures for the establishment of a society agree- 
ably to said constitution, on each side of the 
Hudson." 

From other sources we learn that Rev. Andrew 
King, pastor of the Wallkill Church, was the first 
President of the Society so formed, ' ' on this side 
of the Hudson ;" and it is no presumption to con- 
clude that members of this Presbytery were at least 
among those who ' ' took effectual measures for the 
establishment" five years later, in 1816, of the 
society ' ' on the other side of the Hudson. ' ' The 
older one was called the " Orange County Bible 
Society ' ' and the younger the ' ' American Bibee 
Society." 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 79 

The cause of MINISTERIAL EDUCATION, se- 
cured a standing order for regular annual collections 
at the very first meeting. The greatest pains was 
taken to provide for the thorough instruction of 
candidates by pastors designated for the purpose ; 
and the methods of the " Associated Presbyteries " 
were sternly discountenanced. 

When, in 1809, the General Assembly submitted 
to a vote of the Presbyteries, plans for a theolo- 
gical school ; this Presbytery in Sept. appointed 
a committee of six ministers to consider and report 
on the subject in April. They reported against all 
the plans, and gave seven reasons for their action. 
1. The Assembly had failed fully to recognize 
the right of Presbytery to judge whether they 
should countenance such an institution at all, by 
asking them to decide on one of three plans. 2. 
Such a school would make the progress of poor 
and pious young men more difficult. 3. There 
would be a lack of funds to make it what such a 
school should be. 4. * If all students for the 
ministry were not required to attend, the school 
would lack for patronage ; and if they were re- 
quired to attend it would lessen their number. 5. 
The selection of professors would awaken jealousy 
and stir up strife. 6. A somewhat similar at- 
tempt, at Princeton, had already failed of the ex- 
pected success ; and 7. There were already semi- 
naries enough for all who wanted to go. And this 
report was adopted. 



8o HISTORY OF 

The institution was however duly established at 
Princeton in 1812 ; and notwithstanding their 
vote, this Presbytery gave it their cordial sympathy 
and continued support. In 181 3, they Resolved : 
' ' that it was the duty of every member of Presby- 
tery to publically urge the necessity and import- 
ance of contributing to it, and to open subscriptions 
for it." The next year this injunction was re- 
peated ; and in 1819, the churches were recom- 
mended to endow a Scholarship in the name of the 
Presbytery, which scheme however was not a 
success. 

This Presbytery also took very decided ground 
on the subject of public morals. Every narrative, 
while rejoicing in tokens of God's gracious visita- 
tions, bemoans the extended prevalence of social 
evils. In 18 14, one hundred copies of the Assem- 
bly's petition to Congress for legislation against 
Sabbath desecration were ordered printed and dis- 
tributed for signatures. 

In 1815, the formation of societies was urged 
"for the promotion of public virtue and social 
order, and for the suppression of vice and immoral- 
ity, especially intemperance, profanity, Sabbath 
breaking and gambling." Committees were ap- 
pointed to act on each side of the Hudson, and 
' ' Christian brethren of other denominations were 
invited to unite with them in this important 
measure." They highly approved and recom- 
mended to the attention of the pastors and Ses- 
sions, the injunction of the General Assembly in 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 8 1 

1818, which declared it "manifestly the duty of 
all Christians to use their earnest endeavors to 
obtain the complete abolition of slavery through- 
out Christendom and throughout the world." 

But the one great absorbing interest of the 
Presbytery during this perod was the ' ' preaching 
of the gospel," to the ever-increasing population. 
In 1795, the great question was, how shall eight 
ministers preach to sixteen churches, and in 181 9, 
it was how shall twenty-five ministers supply forty 
churches ? Many pages of the record are taken up 
with lists of supplies for from eight to sixteen 
vacant pulpits, and these supplies were necessarily 
taken from the pastors. 

In addition to this, some of these same pastors 
took commissions to act as missionaries from two 
weeks to three months on the frontier, others 
supplying their pulpits, while they "preached the 
gospel in the regions beyond." 

Unfortunately it was not until Sept. 1800, that 
Sessions were required to report the number of 
communicants and the number of baptisms. This 
injunction was repeated every year for four years 
before any schedule of membership was recorded. 
On 1 Jan. 1805, ten churches out of sixteen re- 
ported 725 members. In 18 19, twenty-two 
churches out of forty reported 2,858. But neither 
of these reports include Wallkill, which in 1811, 
had 134 members ; and sixteen other churches 
not reporting in 181 9, had each from ten to 
6 



82 HISTORY OF 

one hundred communicants, so that at a moder- 
ate estimate, there could not have been fewer 
than 3,500 communicants at the close of this 
period. 



III. PERIOD OF DIVISION. 

1819 — 1840. 



CHAPTER VII. 

EARLY ATTEMPTS TO DIVIDE THE PRESBYTERY. 

THE ACTUAL DIVISION. ROLE OF THE NORTH 

RIVER PRESBYTERY. — ROLE OF THE HUDSON 
PRESBYTERY. 

In April 18 12, a motion to ask the Synod to 
divide the Presbytery was considered and laid over 
until the next meeting. In Sept. it was again 
discussed, but no action was taken except to post- 
pone. During the agitation consequent on the war 
with Great Britain, the matter was in abeyance. 

In Sept. 1 81 6, application was made to Synod, 
proposing that eight ministers and all the churches 
east of the River should be called the Presbytery 
of Hudson, without suggesting a name for the 
division on the west side. This application how- 
ever, was withdrawn the next year. 

On 9 Sept. 1819, it was Resolved : "That appli- 
cation be made to the Synod at their next session 
to divide this Presbytery, and that the members on 
the east of the Hudson, together with Messrs. 
Picton, Johnson and Ostrom, and the congregations 
(83) 



HISTORY OF 



of Newburgh, Marlborough, New Paltz aud Pleas- 
ant Valley (west), be formed into a new Presbytery 
to be called ' Duchess. ' A committee was ap- 
pointed to make a division of the books, papers 
and moneys of Presbytery, at their session during 
the intervals of Synod. ' ' 

On 23 Oct. 1 81 9, at Elizabeth Town, N. J., it 
was Resolved : ' ' That application be made to the 
Synod, now in session, to divide the Presbytery of 
Hudson so that the 

Rev. 



Rev. John Clark, 

Joshua Spaulding, 

Ebenezer Grant, 

Thomas Picton, 

John Johnston, 

Eli Hyde, 
including the congregations of 



Eliphalet Price, 
Joel Osborn, 
James I. Ostrom, 
Daniel Crane, 
Robert G. Armstrong 



New Windsor, 

Newburgh, 

Marlborough, 

New Paltz, 

Pleasant Valley (west), 

Pittsburgh, 

Wappings Creek, 

Fishkill, 

Patterson, 



Salem, 
Yorktown, 
Pine Plains, 
Amenia, North, 
Amenia, South, 
Smithfield, 
Pleasant Valley, 
Bedford, 
Poughkeepsie, 



be constituted a new Presbytery to be known by the 
name of the ' Presbytery of North River, ' and that 
their first meeting be held at Patterson, on the first 
Wednesday in November, at three o'clock, P. M., 
and the Rev. Mr. Spaulding, or, in case of his 






HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 



85 



absence, the Senior Minister present, preach and 
preside till a Moderator be chosen. ' ' 

The Synod granted the application, and the 
Presbytery of Hudson adjourned to meet at Bloom- 
ing Grove on the third Tuesday in November, 
1819, at 11 o'clock, A. m. 

The Presbytery of Hudson, thus diminished in 
number and contracted in its territory, consisted 
of the following ministers and churches : 
William Timlow, pastor, . . Amity. 

Bethany, vacant. 
. Bethlehem. 
. Blooming Grove. 
. Chester. 

Cochecton, vacant. 
/ Deer Park. 
\ Ridgebury. 
. Florida. 
Goodwill, vacant. 

Fisk, pastor Goshen. 

Greenbush. 
Haverstraw. 



Artemas Dean, pastor, . . 
Luther Halsey, " . . 
James H. Thomas, pastor, 

William Bain, pastor, . . 
Charles Cummins, pastor, 



Bzra 

Andrew Thompson, pastor, 

Samuel Pelton, pastor, . 

Isaac Van Doren, pastor . 



Methuselah Baldwin, pastoi 
Thomas Grier, pastor, . . 



New Hempstead. 

Hopewell. 

Liberty, vacant. 

Monticello, vacant. 

Nyack, vacant. 

Scotchtown. 

Westtown. 

White Lake, vacant. 



86 HISTORY OF 

Benjamin Prime, without charge. 
Jacob Burbank. " " 

Of these ministers, twelve were pastors, and of 
the churches seven were vacant. 

The committee appointed to make an equitable 
division of the property held by the undivided 
body, reported recommending ' ' That the new 
Presbytery have the money in the Presbyterial 
fund, and the money in the Missionary fund, and 
that the Presbytery of Hudson retain the books, 
papers and money in the Education fund." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

SKETCHES OE THE CHURCHES, CONTINUED. 

i. AMITY. — The church of Amity enjoyed the 
services of Rev. William Timlow, without inter- 
ruption during this entire period. 

2. BETHANY.— On 23 Feb. 1820, Rev. Ger- 
shom Williams was received from the ' ' Presbytery 
of Jersey" and installed at Bethany, Wayne Co., 
Pa. On 5 Sept. 1821, charges impeaching the moral 
character of Mr. Williams were presented before 
Presbytery. It was resolved ' ' to institute an im- 
mediate inquiry," and after issuing citations to 
Mr. Williams and to the witnesses, Presbytery 
adjourned to meet in Bethany on the 19th inst. 
Mr. Williams was, on the request of the congre- 
gation released from his pastoral relation to them 
on the 7th. The charges being substantiated on 
the trial, Mr. Williams was deposed from the Office 
of the Ministry. In October the Synod having 
declared ' ' it the prerogative of a Presbytery to 
excommunicate a minister whom they had de- 
posed, ' ' it was resolved : ' ' That Gershom Williams 
be and hereby is excommunicated from the Church 
of Christ." Fifteen years later, Mr. Williams 
requested "to be restored to the functions of the 
ministry." A committee was appointed to visit 
the places where he had resided and to ascertain 
(87) 



88 HISTORY OF 

his standing in the estimation of those who knew 
him. On the report of this committee, 8 Nov. 
1836, the Presbytery restored Mr. Williams "to 
the communion of the church, and to the office 
and work of the Gospel Ministry." 

On 10 July 1828, Rev. Joel Campbell was re- 
ceived from the " Presbytery of Newark," and in- 
stalled at Bethany, where he continued until on 
17 Oct. 1832, the church was transferred and 
he was dismissed to the " Presbytery of Sus- 
quehanna. ' ' 

3. BETHLEHEM.— This church enjoyed the 
uninterrupted pastorate of Rev. Artemus Dean 
this entire period. 

4. BLOOMING GROVE.— The pastoral rela- 
tion of Rev. Luther Halsey at Blooming Grove, 
beginning 7 Aug. 1816, continued until on 21 
April 1824, ^ was dissolved, and "the congrega- 
tion was declared vacant." On 20 April 1825, 
Rev. James Arbuckle, having previously been re- 
ceived from the ' ' Second Presbytery of Philadel- 
phia," was duly installed. On 18 April 1833, he 
was reported to Presbytery as justly chargeable 
with ' ' Heresy and Schism. ' ' 

A committee, appointed to wait on him re- 
ported, 15 May, that in their opinion the charges 
were well founded. Mr. Arbuckle and a number 
of witnesses, were accordingly cited to appear be- 
fore the Presbytery on the 25 June, at 11 o'clock, 
A. m. , in the church at Goshen. There were five 
charges of Heresy with six specifications, and one 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 89 

charge of Schism. These were placed in his 
hands. He declined answering any question what- 
ever. Presbytery accordingly appointed a com- 
mittee to conduct the prosecution, and cited all 
parties "to appear in the same place on 23 July 
next at 11 o'clock, A. m., to proceed with the 
trial." Presbytery convened agreeably to adjourn- 
ment. There were sixteen ministers and thirteen 
elders present. When asked whether he was 
" guilty or not guilty," Mr. Arbuckle said, "As 
this is a matter of your own institution, and your 
own seeking, I shall be entirely passive in this 
business." Eleven witnesses for the prosecution 
were examined. Mr. Arbuckle " declined introduc- 
ing any testimony." "The Moderator Rev. 
Charles Cummins, D.D., repeatedly called him to 
order for irrelevant and disrespectful language and 
violation of the rules of the house." At length 
he took his hat and saying, — "Mr. Moderator, I 
now bid to you, and through you to this Presbytery 
as such, a final, but respectful and affectionate 
farewell ! " — left the house.* After the usual sum- 
ming up and calling of the roll he was found guily 
on every charge, and Presbytery by a unanimous 
vote Resolved : " That Rev. James Arbuckle be, 
and hereby is suspended from the exercise of the 
ministerial office." On 11 September a commit- 
tee was appointed to visit Mr. Arbuckle, ascertain 
whether he had conformed to or defied the deci- 
sion of Presbytery, and also labor to bring him to 
repentance. On 1 Oct. 1833, this committee re- 



90 HISTORY OF 

ported that Mr. Arbuckle declared " that he did not 
regard the decision of. Presbytery, that he should 
continue to preach and administer the ordinances, 
and that he was more confirmed in his sentiments 
and course than heretofore." Presbytery then 
unanimously Resolved : ' ' That the Rev. James 
Arbuckle a member of this body under suspension 
for Heresy, ought to be and he hereby is deposed from 
the office of the Gospel Ministry, and excommuni- 
cated from the church : and the congregation of 
Blooming Grove is declared vacant."! This affair 
appears to have terminated the relation between 
the church of Blooming Grove and the ' ' Presby- 
tery of Hudson." 

5. CHESTER.— On 18 April 1827, Rev. 
James H. Thomas was released from the pastoral 
charge of the Church of Chester, and on 8 Jan. fol- 
lowing he was dismissed to the " Presbytery of 
North River." On 18 July 1827, Rev. Daniel 
Crane was received from the " Presbytery of North 
River" and installed. On 14 Sept. 1831, his 
pastoral relation was dissolved. 

On 11 Sept. 1833, Rev. John B. Fish was re- 
ceived from the "Presbytery of Delaware," and 
on 10 Sept. 1834, he was dismissed to the "Pres- 
bytery of North River. ' ' 

The local history states that Rev. John B. Fish 
was pastor for three years at Chester ; but there is 
no reference in the minutes of Presbytery to any 



* Min. of Presb. Vol. vi, p. 62. 
t Ibid., p. 93. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 9 1 

installation nor to any call upon Mr. Fish. While 
he may have been their supply for a time, he is 
referred to as laboring in the bounds of " North 
River Presbytery," at the time of his dismission. 
On 10 Nov. 1835, the Session was notified of the 
irregularity of ' ' employing a minister to labor 
statedly, who was not a member of this Presbytery; 
and that a continued neglect to comply with the 
rules must be considered as worthy of censure." 
In April following, Rev. Isaac C. Beach, of the 
' ' North River Presbytery ' ' appeared and assigned 
satisfactory reasons, why he and the Session of 
Chester Church had not complied with the rules of 
Presbytery : and they "were declared free from 
blame." On 14 Sept. Mr. Beach was received, 
and on 17 Nov. 1836, he was installed at Chester. 

6. COCHECTON.— The church of Cochecton 
had supplies regularly from Presbytery, but no 
pastor during this period. On 16 March 1822, 
Rev. John Boyd of Monticello, presided at the 
ordination of three elders; and on 28 Dec. 1838, 
Rev. Benjamin VanKeuren presided at the ordin- 
ation of three more. No house of worship was as 
yet erected. 

7. DEER PARK.— After the release of Rev. 
William Blain on 17 April 1822, the pulpit of Deer 
Park Church remained vacant, until, with consent 
of Presbytery, 15 Sept. 1824, Mr. Edwin Downer, 
a licentiate of the ' ' Presbytery of Jersey ' ' was 
employed as Stated Supply. The following April, 
he was received as an ordained minister from the 



92 HISTORY OF 

"Presbytery of Elizabeth town, " and on 31 May 
1825, he was installed. On 22 Oct 1828, his 
pastoral relation was dissolved. On 14 Sept. 1831, 
Rev. Sylvester Sweezey was received from the 
' ' Congregational Convention of Long Island. ' ' 
Local history makes him pastor of Deer Park 
Church from Oct. 1831, to April 1833; but there is 
no reference to any such relationship on the 
Records of Presbytery. 

On 3 July 1833, Rev. Andrew Thompson was 
installed and continued there as pastor until his 
death, 27 Feb. 1838. In the year of his installa- 
tion, the population and business having centred 
about two miles from the church and glebe, on the 
new turnpike, a majority were very decided in 
their opinion that their proposed new church edifice 
should be erected at that point, called Mount Hope. 
Their views prevailed. The church was built in 
1834, and dedicated in 1835.* The aggrieved 
minority, 21 April 1835, sent a complaint to Pres- 
bytery in which they ' ' styled themselves members 
of the First Presbyterian Society of Deer Park." 
This complaint was referred to a committee which 
reported ' ' that they had examined the same, and 
while they regret the dissension and difficulty, yet 
they find nothing that can now come under the 
direction and control of Presbytery. ' ' On 9 Sept.' 
' ' a petition from members and hearers of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Deer Park, was received, 

* Alsop W. Mapes. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 93 

asking Presbytery to grant them supplies, their 
minister having removed his ministrations to a new 
house of worship erecled by a part of the congre- 
gation." To this petition Presbytery replied that 
' ' it would be improper to appoint supplies for one 
part of the congregation of a minister, who still 
holds the official relation of pastor, notwithstanding 
he preaches in another house, "f This portion of 
the congregation then withdrew, feeling that they 
could not become reconciled to the change. 

On the ii June 1839, Rev. William G. John- 
stone was received from the ' ' Second Presbytery 
of New York," and 011 the 20th inst. he was in- 
stalled. 

8. FLORIDA.— The Rev. Charles Cummins 
continued in the relation of pastor to the Church 
of Florida until 30 April 1839, when the line of 
division separating the Presbytery into two distinct 
bodies, was drawn between pastor and people. Mr. 
Cummins requested a release, in which the congre- 
gation, for technical reasons did neither concur nor 
dissent. 

9. GOODWILL. —The unhappy state of things 
which had existed in the Goodwill Church since 
the death of Rev. Andrew King, in 18 15, continued. 
On 20 April 1820, Presbytery appointed another 
season of special prayer for that congregation, 
" recommending that ministers, churches, congre- 
gations and individuals, on the fifth Sabbath in 
May, implore the great Head of the Church to pity 

t Min. of Presb. Vol. vi, pps. 146, 148, 174 and 175. 



94 HISTORY OF 

their condition, restore harmony, awaken a spirit 
of prayer and longing for the house of God, settle 
among them a pastor after his own heart, and pour 
out upon them largely the influences of his Holy 
Spirit, that their days of darkness may be ended 
and rejoicing and praise be heard in the courts of 
our God. "| On 6 Sept. following, a call was laid 
before Presbytery for Mr. Robert W. Condit, a 
licentiate of the "Presbytery of Jersey." It was 
found in order but Presbytery cautiously referred 
its further prosecution to the Synod. On 18 Oct., 
the Synod heard the record of Presbytery read, and 
finding no reason stated for the reference, returned 
it to the Presbytery ' ' to give their reasons if they 
think proper." Presbytery said "that a large 
minority that had voted against the call, suspected 
Presbytery to be unfriendly to their interests, and 
that they believed a decision of Synod would be for 
the prosperity of the Church of Goodwill, and they 
earnestly requested such decision." The Synod 
"after some discussion decided that the congrega- 
tion ought to have leave to prosecute the call for 
Mr. Condit, and directed the Presbytery to give 
them leave. ' ' Presbytery ' ' complied with their 
advice and direction."* 

On 12 Dec. 1820, Presbytery met at Goodwill 
and received Mr. Condit. A remonstrance against 
his settlement was also received and read. As it 
was of recent orioin, — related to circumstances 



± Min. of Presb. Vol. iv, p. 166. 

* Min. of Presb. Vol. 4, pps. 198-200. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 95 

connected with making out the call, — contained 
no proof of the charges it conveyed against the 
Moderator and the majority at that time ; as the 
whole matter had been sanctioned by Synod, and 
as Mr. Condit had been received and had accepted 
the call therefore it was Resolved: "That the 
remonstrance be declared out of order." Mr. 
Condit was then examined and the next day or- 
dained and installed. 

The remonstrants withdrew, and the "Berea," 
R. D. Church in the immediate neighborhood, ul- 
timately grew out of their secession. 

The present commodious parsonage was built 
during the first year of Mr. Condit' s ministry. 
On 22 April 1830, he was released, and on 8 June 
1-831, dismissed to the "Presbytery of Oswego." 

On 27 July 1830, Rev. William Blain was re- 
ceived from the "Presbytery of North River" 
and installed at Goodwill, where he continued for 
twenty-five years, beloved by his people, dis- 
tinguished for his righteous character and trusted 
in the courts of the church ; while his ministry 
was honored of God by two precious revivals, and 
the addition of one hundred and twenty-five souls 
on profession of their faith. In the first year of Mr. 
Blain' s pastorate $1,231 were expended in repairs 
upon the church edifice. 

10. GOSHEN.— After the release of Rev. 
Ezra Fisk, D. D. , from the pastorate of the Goshen 
Church n Sept. 1833, supplies were appointed for 
two Sabbaths in each month until April. At a 



96 HISTORY OF 

special meeting, 5 March 1834, a call upon the 
Rev. James V. Henry of the ' ' Presbytery of Bed- 
ford," to become their pastor was presented and 
found in order, and leave was granted to prosecute 
the same before that Presbytery. As there is no 
further reference to this transaction it is probable, 
Mr. Henry declined their overtures. The church 
continued to receive supplies from Presbytery for 
about one-quarter of the time, until 21 April 1835, 
when Rev. James R. Johnson was received from 
the ' ' Presbytery of New York, ' ' and a call for his 
services, accompanied with a remonstrance, was 
presented. Presbytery heard the commissioner, 
James W. Wilkins, and the remonstrants at some 
length, and discussed the matter thus brought be- 
fore them, after which they resolved to install Mr. 
Johnson, which was done, 30 April 1835. A com- 
mittee appointed to confer with the Session of the 
church in Goshen in reference to certain existing 
difficulties, reported 15 Sept. 1836, "that they had 
been unable to effect a settlement of said difficul- 
ties."* Mr. Johnson's pastorate terminated 16 
Oct. 1839, by his resignation ; the impaired state 
of his health being assigned as the reason. 

11. GREENBUSH. 12. NYACK. — The 
Rev. Andrew Thompson was released from the 
Greenbush charge 25 June 1833, and, as we have 
seen, was the next week installed at Deer Park. 

In 1823, the congregation at Greenbush had built 
their first church edifice and dedicated it 14 Jan. 

* Min. of Presb. Vol. vi, p. 223. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 97 

1824. On 16 April 1834, Rev. Jared Dewing was 
received from the ' ' Presbytery of Albany ' ' and 
eight days later was installed pastor of the united 
churches of Greenbush and Nyack. On 18 Sept. 
1835, their church edifice was destroyed by 
fire. The next year the same stone walls were 
again enclosed and it was redeclicated on 5 April 
1 S3 7. These churches presented a petition in 
April 1834, requesting to be transferred to the 
"Presbytery of New York." The request was 
complied with, and on 22 Oct. 1S34, the transfer 
was effected by the ' ' Synod of New York, ' ' thus 
dividing the Presbytery. 

13. HAVERSTRAW. 14. NEW HEMP- 
STEAD. — The venerable Samuel Pelton who had, 
since 18 Feb. 181 7, been pastor of the united churches 
of Haverstraw and New Hempstead requested, 16 
Oct. 1839, on the ground of failing health, that 
his relation to this his only pastoral charge, might 
cease. The congregation were cited to show cause 
at the next stated meeting, if any existed, why it 
should not be done. Failing to appear, Presbytery 
released Mr. Pelton on 22 April 1840. The church 
had at that time eighty-two members. Mr. Pelton 
had just passed his sixty-fifth birth-day. 

The life of this man seems to be an essential 
part of the history of this Presbytery. His 
parents w 7 ere members of the Goodwill Church. 
In answer to prayer they received him back 
to life, when at the age of three years it 
7 



9» HISTORY OF 

seemed that lie must die. When he united with 
the Goodwill Church his father and the pastor 
Mr. King, urged him to study for the ministry. 
He did not see his way clear to do so. In 1797, 
he married, and in 1802, bought a tract of land, 
four miles from Monticello and moved there the 
next year. He built a log-cabin in the wilderness 
and spent fourteen years in subduing the forests 
and reducing acre after acre to tillage. At the 
same time he was one of the most active christian 
men between the Shawangunk Mountain and the 
Delaware River. He gathered people together 
wherever he could on the Sabbath, prayed with 
them, exhorted them and instructed them in the 
way of salvation. He was often called to officiate 
at funerals. He was one of the two ruling elders 
ordained at the organization of the Monticello 
Church. On the 21 April 1814, he yielded to the 
earnest persuasion of Rev. Mr. King and others, 
was taken under the care of Presbytery and began 
the study of theology. He was licensed 6 Sept. 
1816, and ordained and installed 18 Feb. 1817, as 
we have stated. Instead however, of going home 
to die after a twenty-three years pastorate, his 
health greatly improved in the high region of 
Sullivan County, and he was able to supply vacant 
pulpits and preach in destitute regions during the 
twenty-three years longer that his life was spared. 
He died 10 July 1864, and was buried at Monticello. 
15. HOPEWELL.— After the release of Rev. 
Isaac VanDoreu 20 April 1825, supplies were fur- 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 99 

nished by Presbytery. On 19 Dec. 1826, Mr. Hugh 
M. Koontz was received as a licentiate from the 
' ' Presbytery of Washington. ' ' The next day he 
was ordained and installed. During his ministry 
the present meeting house was erecled on a new 
and more eligible site than that previously occupied. 
On 9 May 1832, Mr. Koontz was released and dis- 
missed to the ' ' Presbytery of Philadelphia. ' ' On 
17 April 1833, Rev. John H. Leggett was received 
from the "Presbytery of North River." On 15 
May following, he was installed, and continued a 
faithful and a successful pastor for twenty-two years. 
Like his predecessor, Mr. VanDoren, he was long 
and intimately identified with the Presbytery as 
Stated Clerk. 

16. LIBERTY.— On 6 Sept. 1821, Presbytery 
addressed a letter to the Session at Liberty on the 
subject of their irregularity in employing a man 
unknown to the Presbytery, as their religious 
teacher.* On 17 April 1822, Mr. Carrier in behalf 
of the congregation, applied for leave to em- 
ploy Mr. Mackey to preach for them until 
the next stated meeting. The request was 
granted, "providing Mr. Mackey' s credentials 
show him to be regularly authorized to preach 
the gospel." 

The Presbyterial Narrative of 1827, ^ s an 
especially sad and gloomy one. Two pages of 
details are summed up in this sentence : ' ' Over 



* Min. of Presb. Vol. iv, p. 226. 

LofC. 



IOO HISTORY OF 

all our older and larger churches,— an appalling 
gloom is gathering which threatens to paralyze, 
by its withering influence, the vital stream of life 
and energy. ' ' Yet, there were two ' ' verdant 
spots refreshed by the healthful influence of the 
Sun of Righteousness. ' ' One of these was Liberty. 
The labors of one of the licentiates of Presbytery 
had been peculiarly favored with the blessing of 
the Holy Spirit, and more than sixty had been led 
to cherish the hope of salvation. The other point 
was Mil ford, which is said to have "undergone an 
astonishing transformation." There is no other 
reference to the church of Liberty except in the 
report of the committee of supplies, where it 
appears regularly, except in the years 1831 and 
1832. Mr. Condit, the supply for the fourth Sab- 
bath in Nov. 1829, ^ s "directed to preach on the 
subject of Intemperance." In 1834, there were 
seventy-nine members ; and in 1840, when Mr. 
James Petrie was ordained and installed, — the first 
pastor, — there were seventy-four members. 

17. MONTICELLO.— On 6 July 1820, Rev. 
John Boyd was received from the " Presbytery of 
Newton," and installed "for one-half his time." 
On 20 April 1825, his pastoral relation was dis- 
solved. Supplies were furnished, until Rev. 
William Mcjimsey, received from the " Second 
Presbytery of New York," was installed on 
23 June 1829. On 15 Sept. 1830, he was re- 
leased, and on 14 Sept. 1831, dismissed to the 
" Presbytery of Newton." Monticello again ap- 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. IOI 

pears among the churches supplied, until 1 1 Sept. 
1833, when Rev. James Adams was received from 
the ' ' Presbytery of Montrose, ' ' and the next day 
was installed. His pastorate continued undisturbed 
for a period of twenty years. 

18. RIDGEBURY.— The pastoral relation of 
Rev. William Blain terminated 20 April 1820. 
Supplies were appointed regularly until 1824, 
and once in 1825. On 4 Oct. 1827, Rev. William 
Timlow, then pastor at Amity, was installed for 
" one-half his time." It is probable, as the local 
history* states, that Mr. Timlow had for some 
years already supplied the Ridgebury pulpit on 
alternate Sabbaths. On 25 June 1833, this rela- 
tion was dissolved, and on 1 Oct. , Rev. Sylvester 
Sweezy was installed pastor for the full time. He 
died at Ridgebury 5 Mar. 1837, and his sepulchre 
is there to this day. 

This church reported one hundred and seventy- 
six members in 1837. 

19. SCOTCHTOWN.— The church of Scotch- 
town is one of those which do not make history 
fast. Rev. Methuselah Baldwin, installed its first 
pastor in 1803, was still "standing in his lot at 
the end of the days ' ' of controversy. On 1 2 June 
1839, Mr. Edward D. G. Prime was ordained and 
installed co-pastor with Mr. Baldwin. In the 
Minutes of the General Assembly for 1826, ten 
dollars for the Theological Seminary at Princeton, 



* Rev. T. Brittain. 



102 HISTORY OF 

are credited to "The Female Benevolent Society 
of Scotchtown." 

20. WESTTOWN.— The Rev. Thos. Grier, 
pastor at Westtown since Feb. 1809, had from time 
to time preached in the southern part of Sullivan 
County, and having presumed to immerse two 
converts at Forestburgh, was severely criticised by 
a portion of his congregation. On 18 April 1827, 
the Presbytery was memorialized upon the sub- 
ject, and during the discussion, Mr. Grier asked 
that his pastoral relation might be dissolved. The 
congregation were cited to appear at the next meet- 
ing, and on 12 Sept. 1827, with their concurrence, 
the dissolution was effected. On 30 Oct. 1828, 
Rev. Christopher Cory was received from the 
"Presbytery of Newark," and remained in con- 
nection with this Presbytery until 12 Sept. 1832, 
when he was dismissed to the " Presbytery of 
Michigan. ' ' There is no reference in the ' ' records ' ' 
to any call upon Mr. Cory from the Church of 
Westtown. It is probable that he served them as 
Stated Supply. In the midst of the four years 
that he labored there, God's Spirit was present to 
bless the Word, and on 27 Dec. 1829, one hundred 
and one souls were received into the communion 
of the church. Before the close of Mr. Grier' s 
pastorate the old meeting house had been razed, re- 
framed, remodeled and reared again, its dimensions 
thirty-eight by forty-eight feet, and its style, a 
gallery on three sides with the pulpit between the 
doors. In the first year of Mr. Cory's ministry, 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. IO3 

30 April 1829, a portion of the congregation, 
having erected a neat and comfortable meeting 
house at Centreville, were organized into a separate 
body by a committee of Presbytery. In the last 
year of his ministry, on 20 Sept. 183 1, sixty-nine 
other members were organized into the Church of 
Unionville. On 17 April 1833, Rev. Theron 
C. Depew was received from the ' ' Presbytery of 
North River," and on 1 May, he was installed 
pastor of the united churches of Westtown and 
Unionville. His relation to the Unionville Church 
ceased 20 Oct. 1824 ; but he continued pastor of 
the Westtown Church until 17 April 1838, when 
he was released. After repeated applications for a 
letter of dismission to the " Presbytery of St. 
Joseph's," Presbytery, on 22 April 1840, "fur- 
nished him a certificate of good standing up to the 
time of his leaving our bounds in the summer of 
1838."* 

The Rev. Thos. Holliday acted as Stated Supply 
during a portion of the interval that occurred be- 
fore the installation of Rev. Ralph Bull as the next 
pastor, 20 Jan. 1841. 

31. WHITE LAKE.— Rev. John Boyd, of Mon- 
ticello, devoted one-half his time to this church. 
Twelve persons were received by letter and thirty- 
two on confession, of whom twenty-eight had re- 
ceived baptism in infancy, during his ministry 
there. In Jan. 1826, Rev. William Mcjimsey 



Min. of Presb. Vol. vi, p. 35] 



104 . HISTORY OF 

visited, and spent much of his time for two years, 
with this church. For twenty years, the member- 
ship was largely composed of Congregationalists. 
After 1830, the additions were more frequently 
Presbyterians from Scotland and Ireland. The 
' ' Associate Reformed Presbytery, ' ' up to that year, 
joined in sending supplies. Their people wor- 
shiped in the same building and aided in the sup- 
port of the gospel. The two congregations 
cordially fraternized, neither being able to obtain 
or support a minister alone. During 1830 and 
1 83 1, Rev. James George supplied the united 
congregations. By his advice the Associate Re- 
formed people became a separate organization, and 
the White Lake Church was thrown on its own 
resources. In the spring of 1836, Rev. Thomas 
Holliday, who had been received from the "Pres- 
bytery of Albany" on 11 Sept. 1833, began his 
labors, and gave all his time to this church for two 
years. In Sept. 1838, Mr. Holliday was tried and 
unanimously acquitted by Presbytery, of the charge 
of immorality. On 11 Sept. 1839, this church 
obtained leave to employ Mr. Joseph Sillcocks of 
the "Presbytery of New Brunswick." 



CHAPTER IX. 

SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES ADDED TO THE ROEL 
DURING THIS PERIOD. 

To these twenty-one churches there were added 
eleven others in the following order : 

i. FORESTBURGH,— In Sullivan Connty, 
applied 18 April 1821, to be received under the 
care of Presbytery. The request was granted and 
leave given to employ Rev. Stephen Sergeant of the 
"Congregational Convention of N. J." Mr. Ser- 
geant's application to be received as a member of 
Presbytery was postponed and in April 1822, dis- 
missed. He was however Stated Supply at For- 
estburgh, appointed from time to time at their 
request, for three years. There were thirty-three 
members reported in 1822 and thirty-two in 1824. 
In 1 83 1, supplies having been regularly furnished, 
they reported thirty-eight. Though carefully cher- 
ished by Presbytery, no efforts appear to have been 
made to build a meeting house for this organization ; 
and though at one time it was expected to out- 
grow the church at Monticello, it eventually died 
in the District School House in which it was born. 
Its name disappears after 19 April 1837, when Mr. 
Jeremiah Terbell, the only remaining elder, applied 
to Presbytery for a letter of dismission to join some 
church in the city of New York. 

(105) 



106 HISTORY OF 

2. MIDDLETOWN.— The earliest ecclesias- 
tical connection of this church was with the 
' ' Associated Presbytery of Morris County. ' ' After 
1792, the " Associated Presbytery of Westchester " 
furnished it counsel and pulpit supplies. The 
oldest proof of its existence on record is dated 22 
Sept. 1792, at which time fourteen candidates for 
membership were received. Tradition fixes the 
date of its birth on 10 June 1785. The first meet- 
ing house was so far inclosed as to be occupied for 
public worship in 1786. Ten years later it was, 
at a parish meeting, by a majority vote, decided 
" to be a duty to petition the Legislature for an act 
to make a lottery for the purpose of finishing the 
meeting house and buying a parsonage." The 
meeting house was finished however in 1798, with- 
out the church being obliged to discharge this 
' ' duty ; ' ' and standing for thirty years, on the 
present site of the Congregational Church, it be- 
came the birth-place of many souls. 

The names of those who ministered to this church 
in early times were, Rev. Charles Seely, who also 
preached to the church of " Shawangunk," (Deer 
Park?) until 1796. Rev. Zenas Smith, ordained in 
1798, was Stated Su-pply for several years. Rev. 
William Bull from 1805 to 1807. Rev. Allen Blair 
from 1808 to 1812, one third of his time. Rev. 
Abel Jackson from 1812 to 181 9. Rev. Abner 

Brundage. Rev. Boughton. Rev. William 

Blain 1820 to 1823, and Mr. Daniel Young, who 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 107 

was licensed and ordained '•'•sine titulo" by the 
Presbytery of Hudson, on 13 Nov. 1823. 

Under the ministry of Mr. Jackson, in 1815, 
there was a wonderful outpouring of the Holy 
Spirit, and one hundred and twenty-three souls 
were added to the church. This embraced a large 
proportion of the population, for there were not 
people enough even to have a post office until the 
next year ; and its receipts for the first quarter 
were only sixty-nine cents. New Year's day 181 6, 
was made a day of special thanksgiving, and 
neighboring ministers and churches were invited 
to enter into the joy of the occasion. The Wed- 
nesday evening prayer meeting then instituted has 
never had the fire on its altars extinguished. After 
a few years it was found that ' ' the enemy had 
sowed tares among the wheat." Cases of disci- 
pline arose, too intricate for Congregational wisdom 
to adjust, and too grievously scandalous for its 
authority to cure. In the most deliberate manner 
the church polity was changed. On 20 April 1824, 
they asked to be received into connection with 
Presbytery on the same plan with the Church of 
Blooming Grove, and appointed deacon Eli Corwin 
as delegate. The request was granted and deacon 
Corwin was invited to take his seat as a member of 
Presbytery.* On 10 June following, Mr. George 
Stebbins was ordained and installed. On 3 Nov. 
1825, the society met and organized under the 



* Min. Presb. Vol. vi, p. 32 



108 HISTORY OF 

Presbyterian order, electing ten persons to serve as 
elders. In March 1826, five of these were ordained 
and the ecclesiastical organization was perfected by 
declaring them regularly constituted elders. On 
18 April 1827, Mr. Stebbins was released. On 31 
March 1828, the corporate title was changed. Six 
trustees of ' ' The First Presbyterian Church and 
Congregation of Middletown," were elected and 
measures were initiated to build a new meeting 
house. This building was completed and dedi- 
cated 20 Jan. 1830. 

On 22 Oct. 1828, Rev. Donald Mcintosh was 
received from the " Presbytery of Steubenville, " 
and on 11 Nov. was installed. On 21 April 1830, he 
sent a request that he might be released, and the 
congregation was cited to show cause if any 
existed why it should not be done. At an ad- 
journed meeting on 9 June 1830, they concurred 
in the request and the relation was dissolved. On 
10 Dec. 1834, Mr. Mcintosh died in the State of 
Florida, where he had gone in quest of health. 
On 18 April 1828, Mr. Daniel T. Wood was 
licensed, and on 23 Oct. following, he was or- 
dained as an evangelist. On 9 June 1830, he was 
installed in the pulpit which he had already filled 
with great acceptance during the absence of Mr. 
Mcintosh. The pastorate of Mr. Wood which 
terminated with his decease 18 Aug. 1859, was 
eminently successful and early distinguished by 
tokens of the divine favor. An aggregate of 
one hundred and thirty-eight souls were added to 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 109 

the church within a few years after his installa- 
tion. He succeeded Mr. Condit as Stated Clerk in 
April 1830, and remained in that office until the 
spring of 1838.* 

3. MOUNT PLEASANT.— On 19 April 1825, 
a communication from the "Congregational Church 
of Mount Pleasant," in Wayne County, Pa., was 
read, and their request to be taken under the care 
of this Presbytery was granted. 

4. MILFORD, — First appears on the Records 
of Presbytery, 6 Sept. 1821. Supplies were then 
appointed for six Sabbaths, and regularly there- 
after until April 1826. On 1 Sept 1825, at a 
meeting of citizens, it' was resolved to ask the 
Presbytery to organize a church. Rev. Thomas 
Grier was sent to preach at Milford on 25 Sept., 
and to organize and administer the Lord's Supper. 
On the 23d, the people met and chose the title of 
the " Church and Congregation of Milford." On 
the 24th, James Wallace, Moses Bross and Jacob 
Quick were elected elders, and on the 25th, they 
were ordained and the Lord's Supper was adminis- 
tered by Mr. Grier. On 9 April 1826, three more 
elders were ordained, and on the 18th the church 
was at their own request, taken under the care 
of the Presbytery. The Narrative of 1827, which 
deplores the almost universal declension in vital 
piety, refers to "an astonishing change in the 
moral character and religious prosperity of the little 



Local History, by Rev. Augustus Seward, D.D. 



IIO HISTORY OF 

church of Milford. ' ' They had wept and prayed 
and labored for perishing souls around them, and 
had " obtained under patronage of the 'A. H. M. 
Society,' the services of one of our members for 
half his time."f One hundred and thirty-seven 
souls on confession and four by letter, were added 
to the membership, and the little church, organized 
eighteen months before with eight members, now 
reported one hundred and fifty-six. The Rev. 
Thomas Grier, after eighteen years' labor at West- 
town, accepted a call and was installed on 8 July 
1828. The congregation, which had worshiped 
hitherto in the old court house, built their first 
church edifice on the spot now occupied by the 
parsonage. On 14 Sept. 1831, Mr. Grier was re- 
leased, and on 21 Feb. 1832, he was dismissed to 
the "Presbytery of North River." For two years 
the Rev. Edward Allen, teacher of the Milford 
Academy, acted as Stated Supply. We learn from 
the Narrative of 1833, that "during the past year 
in Milford more than one hundred members have 
been added," making a total of one hundred and 
seventy-nine. From Aug. 1834, to Aug. 1835, 
Rev. William Townley was Stated Supply. In 
Sept. 1835, Presbytery appointed supplies, and in 
April 1836, the Stated Clerk was "directed to 
furnish the Church of Milford with the rules of 
Presbytery respecting supplies." On 8 Nov. 
1836, Mr. Ralph Bull was received as a licentiate 



f There is no clue to the name of this member of Presbytery. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. Ill 

from the "Second Presbytery of Philadelphia." 
A call from Milford was placed in his hands which 
he declared he could not accept. He united 
however with the church in asking that he might 
be ordained ; which request was granted, and he 
was ordained at Milford 25 Nov. 1836. He served 
them as Stated Supply until 1840, in which year 
Milford reported one hundred and twenty members. 
5. CENTER VILLE,— Was organized 30 April 
1829, from a part of the Church of Westtown. 
"The Centreville Presbyterian Church and Con- 
gregation," was incorporated on 5 April 1827, an( ^ 
the work of building a meeting house was at once 
entered upon. It was completed and dedicated on 
19 April 1829. On the 2 2d, twenty-five persons 
with letters from Westtown, requested Presbytery 
to organize them into a church "at Centreville in 
the vicinity where they reside." A committee 
was appointed to effect the organization on the 
30th inst. ' ' Three elders were ordained, Messrs. 
David Osborn, Martin h. Mapes and Dorastus 
Brown. The Presbytery appointed supplies for 
that year. The local history states that "Rev. 
Thomas Grier was called to fill the pulpit about 
25 Dec. " If that is correct, then Centreville was 
united with Milford under Mr. Grier, to which 
arrangement there is no allusion upon the records 
of Presbytery. Mr. Grier lived in his own house 
at Milford ; left there in the fall of 1831, and took 
a dismission from the Presbytery, as we have seen, 
in Feb. 1832. Rev. William Townley immediately 



112 HISTORY OF 

succeeded him at Centreville, and supplied Milford 
also for a year from Aug. 1834. On 8 Sept. he 
was received from the " Presbytery of Elizabeth- 
town," and was installed at Centreville on 22 
April 1834. On 19 April 1837, he was released 
and on 13 Sept. following, dismissed to the " Pres- 
bytery of Elizabethtown. " On 18 April 1838, 
Rev. Benjamin Van Keuren was received from the 
" Classis of Paramus," and on 2 May following, 
installed at Centreville, where he remained eight 
years. 

6. CARBONDAIvE.— On 23 June 1829, a con- 
gregation at Carbondale, Pa., requested that a 
committee of Presbytery might be Sent " to 
organize a church on Saturday of this week at that 
place." The request was granted and Rev. Joel 
Campbell was so appointed. 

7. HONESDALE.— On 8 Sept. 1829, " a 
church lately organized at Honesdale " requested 
to be taken under the care of Presbytery. Their 
request was granted and the session books of 
Honesdale and Carbondale were presented with 
others, for review at this meeting. On 16 Sept. 
1830, Rev. Joel Campbell was installed. 

On 21 April 1831, these four churches, Bethany, ■ 
Carbondale, Honesdale and Mt. Pleasant petitioned 
that they might be transferred to the Presbytery 
of Susquehanna. The request, with approval of 
Presbytery, was referred to the Synod of New 
York, and to the General Assembly, and the Pres- 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 113 

bytery of Hudson was thus in 1832, a second time 
divided. 

8. MONROE. — This church was organized by 
Rev. Messrs. Silas Constant and Amzi Lewis, of 
the ' ' Associated Presbytery of Morris County, ' ' on 
17 May 1784, with about seventeen members, of 
whom two were elected deacons. A meeting house 
was begun in 1787, but remained unfinished for 
many years ; the congregation seating themselves 
upon the floor beams, while the carpenter's bench 
served for a pulpit. For thirty-five years they were 
supplied with preaching by Rev. Messrs. Constant, 
Baldwin, Powel, Porter, Simeon R. Jones and 
Rev. James H. Thomas of Chester. Supplies 
were furnished by the Presbytery of Hudson as 
early as Sept. 181 7. In 1820, there were thirteen 
resident members. Rev. Hosea Ball supplied them 
from 1 82 1 until the spring of 1823, during which 
time eighteen more were added. In June 1823, 
Rev. Thomas White became the pastor, but was 
released in Sept. 1824. ^ n I 8 2 5i Rev. John Boyd 
became Stated Supply, and so remained for nine 
years, * during which time the church became fully 
Presbyterian in its organization. On 9 Sept. 
1829, tne ''First Presbyterian Church of Monroe," 
requested to be taken under the care of Presby- 
tery. On 8 Nov. 1836, Rev. John J. Thompson was 
received from the "Presbytery of Columbia," and 



* There is no record of any installation at, or call from Monroe 
upon, Mr. Boyd. 

•8 



114 HISTORY OF 

became Stated Supply. For ten years Mr. Thompson 
maintained his ground with great fidelity, and cour- 
ageously defended "the faith once delivered to 
the saints." His labors were rewarded with a 
precious revival of religion, and he laid securely, 
foundations upon which his successor thank- 
fully enlarged and edified the spiritual house of 
God.f 

9. UNIONVILLE.— On 18 April 1832, a com- 
mittee of Presbytery, appointed the previous Sept., 
reported this church duly organized with sixty-nine 
members from Westtown, and five elders. Supplies 
were appointed. It is probable that Rev. Theron 
C. Depew had supplied them some months, if not 
for the whole interval from the organization to his 
installation on 1 May 1833. He was released on 
20 Oct. 1834. The pulpit remained vacant for two 
years. The Rev. Peter Kanouse of the "Presby- 
tery of Newark," was Stated Supply from Sept. 
18,36, until Oct. 1839. 

10. MONTGOMERY.— A number of members 
of the Goodwill Church on the east, and others of 
the Dutch Reformed Church on the west, found it 
convenient to unite with the religious element in the 
village of Montgomery in forming a new congre- 
gation. The corner-stone of a meeting house was 
laid with appropriate ceremonies on 19 June 1831, 
and on 27 Aug. 1832, they invited Rev. James O. 
Stokes to become their pastor. But his relations to 



f Local History by Rev. D. N. Freeland. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 115 

Presbytery not proving satisfactory, he remained 
as Supply but one year. 

In response to a request from the ' ' First Pres- 
byterian Congregation of the village of Mont- 
gomery," presented 12 Sept. 1832, they were 
taken under the care of Presbytery, and a 
committee was appointed to organize a church in 
said congregation on the 2 Oct. 1832. The church 
was organized with thirty members, five of whom 
were installed as elders. 

On 16 April 1834, Mr. Sheridan Guiteau, a licen- 
tiate of the "Presbytery of New York," was re- 
ceived, and on 29th, ordained and installed. He 
was released on 14 July 1835, but in that brief 
period the membership was increased to ninety-one. 
On 21 Oct. he was dismissed to the " Presbytery of 
Baltimore." On 14 July 1835, Rev. Benjamin B. 
Stockton was received from the " Presbytery of 
Genesee," and on the 28th was installed. On 18 
April 1838 he was released and dismissed to the 
" Presbytery of Rochester. " During his ministry 
there were thirteen additions from the world and 
eighteen by letter, while in his last year there were 
no fewer than sixteen dismissions, leaving a total 
of one hundred and five communicants. On 26 
June 1838, Rev. Elias R. Fairchild was received 
from the "Presbytery of Newark," and installed. 
His pastorate ceased on 3 Oct. 1839, having re- 
ceived eight members by letter and eleven on 
profession of their faith in Christ. 



lib HISTORY OF 

ii. RONDOUT.— On 23 Oct. 1834, Rev. John 
Mason was received from the " Presbytery of New 
York," and on the same day Rev. Cyrus Mason 
appeared in Presbytery and stated that the Presby- 
terian Church of Rondout, Ulster County, having 
ascertained that their ecclesiastical location is 
within the bounds of the Hudson Presbytery, do 
request that they may be received under their care. 
Their request was granted. 

It is evident that Presbytery had little oppor- 
tunity to extend its fostering care over this church. 
There are no reports, no representatives and no 
contributions from the Church of Rondout. The 
Session-book was never presented for review, and 
the name of the pastor appears among the absent- 
tees until 10 Nov. 1835, when Rev. John Mason 
asked to be released from the Rondout Church and 
dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of Bedford, ' ' he hav- 
ing accepted a call to the Church of New Rochelle. 

On 21 April 1840, the Rondout Church was 
stricken from the roll, upon information that they 
did not acknowledge the authority of this body.* 



Min. of Presb. Vol. v, p. 34S 



CHAPTER X. 

ANALYSIS OF THE PERIOD OF DIVISION. 

It would be a pleasant task to enumerate the 
seasons of revival with which the Presbytery was 
visited ; but a few statements must suffice. 

In 1 82 1, eleven churches reported an accession 
of seven hundred. and forty-five ; in 1827, nine re- 
ported one hundred and seventy ; in 1830, eleven 
reported three hundred and ten ; in 1832, ten 
reported five hundred and thirty-one ; in 1833, ten 
reported three hundred and thirty-three ; in 1836, 
eleven reported one hundred and two ; in 1838, 
eleven reported one hundred and thirty-one ; and 
all these were accessions from the world. This 
period was more fruitful in respect to the ingather- 
ing souls than the one that preceded it, and 
increased spiritual energy was also exhibited in 
greater attention to the religious instruction of the 
young in Sunday Schools, and more emphatic 
expression of active interest in the work of moral 
reform. The American S. S. Union, organized in 
1824, is commended in resolutions of sympathy 
and co-operation ; in 1831, three thousand were 
reported to Presbytery as under this form of 
religious instruction. That branch of moral 
reform which effectually banished the demijohn 
from the harvest field, the decanter from the side- 

(ii7) 



1 1 8 HISTORY OF 

board, the wine-cup from the table of christians 
and largely purified the public breath from the 
taint of strong drink, is approved in such unam- 
biguous terms as these : "Whereas, The progress 
of the temperance cause hitherto in our land calls 
for devout gratitude to the author of all good, and 
is an encouraging token to its friends of its final 
triumph, and that it may not be retarded in its 
onward march ; Resolved : That this Presbytery 
most affectionately recommends by precept and 
example to all the friends of the cause, to practice 
on the safe plan of entire abstinence from all that 
can intoxicate as a beverage. ' ' * 

These twenty years from the close of 1819 to 
1840, may well be called The Period of Division. 
It begins with the division into the two Presby- 
teries of "North River" and "Hudson," on 23 
Oct 1819 ; with the consent of all parties and the 
conviction that it would be for the best interests of 
the churches. 

The second division transferred, at their own 
request, and with the consent of Presbytery and 
Synod in 1831, and of the General Assembly in 
1832, the four churches of Bethany, Carbondale, 
Honesdale and Mount Pleasant, in Wayne County, 
Pa., to the "Presbytery of Susquehanna. " 

The third division transferred the churches of 
Greenbush and Nyack to the ' ' Presbytery of New 
York" in Oct. 1834. 



Min. of Presb., 21 April 1836. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 119 

The fourth division, with which the period 
closed in 1840, created two bodies on the same terri- 
tory, each claiming to the exclusion of the other, 
the title, the functions and the prerogatives of the 
' ' Presbytery of Hudson. ' ' 

Since both these held tenaciously to the Stand- 
ards of Doctrine and Policy ; and each believed its 
course of procedure essential to the safety and suc- 
cess of the church; and all acted "in all good 
conscience before God;" it is evident that' the 
cause of this division must be sought in some 
influence subtle and pervasive and operating, in 
some instances unconsciously, in the realm of the 
religious convictions. And when we consider that 
this division was not like that between Abraham 
and Lot, or that between Naomi and Orpah, or 
that between Judah and the Ten Tribes, final : — 
but rather like the dividing of an impetuous cur- 
rent by an obstacle which an earthquake had 
toppled into its channel, only to flow together 
again when the obstruction was passed, — we are 
the more ready to conclude that something of such 
a nature had prevented Zion's watchmen from see- 
ing eye to eye. 

To one reading the "Records" in the light of 
the history of the church at large from the begin- 
ning of the Century, the cause is apparent. 

Reference has already been made to the "plan 
OF union," — an agreement entered into between 
the ' ' General Association of Connecticut ' ' and the 
"General Assembly," "with a view to prevent 



120 HISTORY OF 

alienation and promote union and harmony in 
those new settlements which are composed of 
inhabitants from these bodies." Upon the pro- 
posal by the "Association," "to consider the 
measures proper to be adopted," the General 
Assembly of 1801, appointed a committee of five 
' ' to digest a plan of government for the churches in 
the new settlements, agreeably to the propcsal." 
That committee presented four "Regulations," 
which were approved, ordered sent to the Associa- 
tion, and, "if approved by them, to go into im- 
mediate operation." 

The next year our delegates reported that ' ' the 
Regulations submitted by the General Assembly 
had been unanimously adopted by the Associa- 
tion. ' ' * 

Prompted by the same pious motives, and origi- 
nating at the same period, this Plan of Union set 
at work on a higher plane the same unsound 
principle which underlaid the " Associated Presby- 
teries." It cemented with religious fervor what 
would fall apart of itself when the glow should 
abate. It was an artificial combination of two 
radically different forms of church government. 
The same inevitable friction which retarded the 
wheels of the machinery of those Presbyteries until 
they ceased to move, produced jarring in the more 
ponderous enginery of Synods and Associations 
and Assemblies. 



Min. of Gen. Assembly, 1S01 and 1S02. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 121 

As the business of the partnership increased, 
and capital enlarged, and patronage extended ; as 
receipts, in churches organized and ministers 
ordained and souls converted, swelled to greater 
proportions, it naturally followed that each partner 
thought of his share in the management, his title 
to the proceeds and his claim upon the patronage. 
During the fifteen years immediately following the 
adoption of the Plan, little notice was taken of any 
infelicities. The rush of migration to Central and 
Western New York, overflowing into Ohio which 
had just been admitted to the Union of States, 
(1802,) with the busy efforts to collect the scattered 
families into churches, followed by the distraction 
of the public attention during the war with Great 
Britain from 181 2 to 181 5, we may well suppose 
kept ecclesiastical matters in abeyance. And even 
such friction as was now and then apparent in after 
years, was largely overcome by unction upon the 
churches in the gracious revivals in 1815, 1821, 
1830, etc. Nevertheless the result seems a demon- 
stration of the fact that religious enterprises should 
be managed upon sound business principles. In 
"serving the Lord," fervency of spirit must not 
be either smothered or unduly fanned by ' ' sloth- 
fulness in business.'' ' L,ove for Christ and love for 
souls make the hearts of christians flow together ; 
but those melting hearts need the restraint and 
guidance of clear heads, when they pour out their 
love upon an unsympathizing world. Love for 
Christ implies love for ' ' the church, which is His 



12 2 HISTORY OF 

body : "and love for the church as an emotion, may 
spread itself like thin air over all Christendom : but 
when it resolves itself into direct effort to edify the 
body of Christ, it intelligently seeks channels 
through which it can exert the greatest force upon 
the wheels of christian activity and usefulness. 

The justness of these remarks will appear in the 
consideration of these FIVE particulars in which 
the respective Presbyterian and Congregational 
orbits intersected rather than coincided. 

i. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION.— Thorough 
Education of Candidates for the Ministry, and the 
Work of Missions, were the two Pillars, " Jachin 
and Boaz " set up at the very threshold of the 
temple of this Presbytery. By one "God should 
establish," and by the other "He would give 
strength. ' ' 

Its Candidates for the Ministry were instructed 
by settled ministers appointed for the purpose. 
They were required to attend the meetings of 
Presbytery — they were named by contributing 
" Cent Societies," as well as when collections were 
taken for Ministerial Education in the churches ; — 
and if possible this cause was nearer than any 
other to the heart of the Presbytery. Their action 
in 1809, respecting the proposed Theological 
Seminary at Princeton, * is very significant of the 
jealousy with which this interest of the education 
of their candidates was regarded. 



See p. 79. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 123 

In 1815, the "American Education Society" 
was organized under the segis of the Plan of Union, 
and received the support of Presbyterians and 
Congregationalists. Scarcely was it in operation 
before the General Assembly took steps which led 
to the organization of the " Presbyterian Educa- 
tion Society of New York City" in 1818, and 
of the ' ' Presbyterian Board of Education ' ' in 
1819. 

The Presbytery of Hudson, 17 Nov. 181 9, 
organized a board of education auxiliary to the 
Assembly's Board. The first article of its consti- 
tution provided that ' ' all the pastors and one lay- 
man from each congregation" should constitute 
said board. Provision was even made for anni- 
versary exercises at each spring meeting of Presby- 
tery. In three years it was found that there was 
' ' no prospect of a sufficient union of sentiment 
and concert of action to warrant the hope of suc- 
cess of this plan." Whereupon it was dissolved, 
and each pastor was ' ' recommended to preach on 
the subject and solicit a collection for the Educa- 
tion Fund of the Presbytery." 

In 1828, the Secretary of the Board of Education 
reported to the Assembly "that ninety Presbyteries 
were auxiliary, but among them ' the Presbytery 
of HUDSON ' were conducting their educational 
concerns Presbyterially as formerly. ' ' * Evidently, 
opinion divided between denominational and vol- 



* Min. Gen. Assembly, 1828. p. 265. 



126 HISTORY OF 

or Committeeman, to sit and vote as a member of 
Presbytery, Synod or Assembly, came to be chal- 
lenged as unconstitutional, when, such votes be- 
came numerous enough . to hold the balance of 
power. Several test cases occurred in the first half 
of this period. On the minutes of 1830, is recorded 
a Resolution of the ' ' General Association of Massa- 
chusetts, " " waiving the privilege of their delegates 
voting in the General Assembly, and regretting 
that their way of receiving candidates and licen- 
tiates, was not satisfactory to the General Assem- 
bly." 

Christian Courtesy was supposed to require 
Presbyteries to receive members of Associations, 
and vice versa, ' ' upon the credit of their constitu- 
tional testimonials." Men contemplating settle- 
ment in any part of the ever-widening Missionary 
field could first secure ordination at home. Ordi- 
nation " sine titulo" became a custom. Strict as 
this Presbytery had previously been, in this period 
they ordained " sine titulo" no fewer than six 
between Nov. 1823 an( ^ Oct. 1834, although but 
one of them purposed entering a field where there 
was no Presbytery to perform this function. With 
"constitutional testimonials" secured, the candi- 
date had a certificate of admission to any Associa- 
tion or Presbytery or Synod, and was authorized to 
exercise the functions and enjoy the privileges of a 
minister, whether engaged in the active work of 
the ministry or not. Evil resulted and grew to 
such an extent that a lono- and most startling 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 27 

memorial on the " inefficiency of the ministry " 
was sent to the General Assembly in 1834, from 
the "East Hanover Presbytery." The same 
Assembly left clear evidence of divided sentiment 
in adopting, one day, two resolutions : one, earn- 
estly recommending Presbyteries not to ordain 
" sine titido" and the other, " respectfully request- 
ing Councils or Consociations to use their counsel 
and influence to prevent such ordinations." Then, 
eight days later, Resolving, that a due regard to 
order, and the bonds of brotherhood, require, that 
ministers, — should be received on their "constitu- 
tional testimonials." And three days later still, 
recording in a vigorous protest ' ' that the above 
resolution is in conflict with the right of a Presby- 
tery to judge of the qualifications of its own mem- 
bers," — " exposes the church to the most serious 
evils, ' ' and ' ' puts it in the power of a few corrupt 
Presbyteries to corrupt the whole church." 

On this subject there does not appear to be a 
diversity of sentiment, so far as this Presbytery is 
concerned. The following action seems to have 
been unanimous: "Whereas, it is the right of 
the Presbytery to examine all persons applying to 
be received as members, therefore, Resolved : 
That it be a Standing Rule of this Presbytery 
to examine all persons applying to be received as 
members, or under their care, touching their views 
of the doctrines contained in the Confession of 
Faith." And again, 23 April 1835, Resolved : 
" That this Presbytery concur in the recommenda- 



128 HISTORY OF 

tion of the Gen. Assembly of 1834, in regard to 
ordaining candidates ' sine tituloj viz. : that they 
dismiss their candidates to be ordained by the 
Presbytery in whose bounds they are dismissed to 
labor." Diversity of sentiment does not appear 
in the records. 

4. FOREIGN MISSIONS.— In the Foreign 
Missionary Department the same difference of 
opinion arose and from the same cause. The " A. 
B. C. F. M." was organized on 29 June 1810, and 
incorporated in 1812. 

The first distinctively Presbyterian Foreign 
Missionary Society, was the Synod of Pittsburgh 
organized as such in 1831, into the "Western 
Foreign Missionary Society. " On 18 April 1833, 
the Presbytery of Hudson Resolved : ' ' That in 
reliance upon the aid and blessing of the Great 
Head of the church this Presbytery will undertake 
to support one Missionary in a foreign land who shall 
be under the care of the ' W. F. M. Society,' and 
at the same time a member of this Presbytery." 
"Rev. William Blain was appointed a committee 
to correspond with the said ' W. F. M. Society.' " 
On 12 Sept. 1833, Mr. James Wilson, a licentiate 
of the " Presbytery of Redstone," signified his 
willingness to devote his life to the work of 
Foreign Missions, and Presbytery being ' ' satisfied 
with his qualifications for the work as far as they 
had become acquainted with him," Resolved : 
" That this Presbytery are willing to undertake his 
support as a Foreign Missionary under the direc- 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 29 

tion of the ' W. F. M. Society,' provided Mr. 
Wilson become a member of this Presbytery. ' ' 

On 1 Oct. 1833, Presbytery Resolved: '"'That 
the several Sessions be requested to make special 
efforts to raise funds to enable Presbytery to meet 
their pledge to the W. F. M. Society" to support 
one Missionary in the Foreign field. 

On 10 Sept. 1834, Mr. James Wilson was re- 
ceived, arrangements were made for his ordina- 
tion "as a missionary to the heathen," — at 
Goshen, on 20 Oct. next, and a "committee of 
three members of Presbytery was appointed to 
accompany our young brother, James Wilson, to 
the vessel which is to convey him from his native 
land, at the time of his embarkation." 

The general Assembly of 1835, appointed a 
committee to confer with the "Synod of Pitts- 
burgh " in relation to a transfer of the " W. F. 
M. Society " to the Assembly and authorized that 
committee to ratify and confirm the transfer, if 
the Synod approved. The committee reported in 
1836, that the transfer had been made ; but that 
Assembly refused ' ' to carry the stipulation into 
effect" by a vote of 106 to no ; and one of the 
reasons assigned for refusing was "the settled be- 
lief of the majority of the Assembly, that the 
operations of the ' A. B. C. F. M. ' within the 
bounds of the Presbyterian Church present the 
best arrangement for the promotion of the cause 
9 



130 HISTORY OF 

of Missions by our churches."* On 10 Sept. fol- 
lowing, "Rev. Daniel T. Wood, Treasurer for the 
Presbytery, in behalf of the ' W. F. M. Society, ' 
resigned that office, and Rev. Charles Cummins 
was immediately appointed in his place;" show- 
ing the same diversity of sentiment in the Presby- 
tery that these acts of the Assembly exhibited. 
5. DOCTRINE.— In the "Plan of Union," 
one of the partners had an open door through 
which error might enter, but possessed neither 
authority to drive it out nor power to shut the 
door. ' ' The new divinity became predominant in 
the churches formed under the " Plan of Union, "f 
The other partner became alarmed. This factor, 
of error in doctrine, appeared so to vitiate every 
other member of the equation as to produce the 
conviction that the good and true result proposed 
in 1 80 1, "to prevent alienation and promote union 
and harmony," could never be reached. New 
doctrines or unfamiliar statements of old doctrines 
led to scenes of intense excitement in church 
courts, and to unparalelled religious controversies 
which permeated the churches and, as many a pas- 
tor found, made a man's foes " those of his own 
(church) household." No details need be entered 
into here. The records of successive General As- 
semblies contain protests, and answers to protests, 
memorials, and addresses to the church, in 
extenso. The Presbytery of Hudson 11 Sept. 



* Min. of Gen. Assembly, 1836, p. 293. 
t H. B. Smith, p. 78, a. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 131 

1834, Resolved: "That without expressing an 
opinion in regard to other portions of said docu- 
ment this Presbytery concur in the testimony 
borne against doctrinal errors in the document 
styled ' Act and Testimony ' signed by sundry 
ministers and elders in the minority of the last 
General Assembly." 

These five essential spheres of Christian En- 
deavor, presenting each its own peculiar obstacle 
to concert of action, were constituent elements of 
the Plan of Union. Men accustomed to look to 
the end of things and to shape present action by 
such forecast, judged it wiser to abolish the Plan 
itself: deeming that plan of union the cause, 
of which diversity of opinion in these particulars 
was the proximate and division the ultimate ef- 
fect. 

While a majority of the Assembly of 1834, 
Resolved : " That it is inexpedient and undesirable 
to abrogate or interfere with the Plan of Union," 
the minority protested against whatever "tended 
to render permanent that Plan, which we consider 
plainly and palpably unconstitutional." 

The Assembly of 1835, advised that the Plan of 
Union be abrogated and the Assembly of 1837 
abrogated it. 

This having been done, that Assembly declared 
four Synods comprising about thirty Presbyteries, 
formed under the Plan of Union to be no part of 
the Presbyterian Church, and proceeded to adjust 



132 HISTORY OF 

the entire benevolent work of the church upon a 
strictly denominational basis. 

The General Assembly of 1838, met in the 
Seventh Church of Philadelphia, refused to enroll 
commissioners from any Presbytery in those four 
Synods : and another Assembly, embracing the 
rejected commissioners, organizing promptly in the 
aisles, immediately adjourned to the First Church. 
Thus there came to be two ecclesiastical bodies, 
each claiming to be " The General Assembly 
of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
States OF America : ' ' one in the Seventy 
Church, moderated by Rev. William S. Plumer, 
D.D., the other, in the First Church, moderated 
by Rev. Samuel Fisher. D.D. 

On 11 Sept. 1838, the Presbytery of Hudson 
Resolved: "That we recognize and continue to 
adhere to the Assembly the sessions of which its 
commissioners attended in May last, and of which 
the Rev. William S. Plumer, D. D. , was moderator, 
as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church in the U. S. of A." The vote was re- 
corded and stood, yeas, 25 ; nays, 8 ; non liquet, 
3. After due notice, Rev. William Timlow pre- 
sented the following protest : ' ' The undersigned 
members of the Hudson Presbytery respectfully 
protest against the act of the Presbytery receiving 
a paper or book claiming to be ' The Minutes 
of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States of America,' 
which we do not acknowledge to be the Minutes 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 33 

of said Assembly for the following reasons, viz. : 

" 1. Because said paper or book acknowledges 
only a part of the Presbyterian Church in the 
United States. 

"2. Because said book or paper assumes the 
authority of commanding the Presbytery to act on 
a basis unknown to the Presbyterian Church. 

' ' Signed : Daniel Crane, William Timlow, Daniel 
T. Wood, Isaac C. Beach, Elias R. Fairchild, 
ministers ; Joseph Decker, Joseph Little, and 
Samuel T. Scott, elders." 

Presbytery Resolved : ' ' That the paper purport- 
ing to be a protest of Daniel Crane and others, is of 
such a nature as to require no formal answer on 
the part of this Presbytery." 

The plane of cleavage through the General 
Assembly of 1838, necessarily extended through 
the lower court. The ' ' Synod of New York ' ' had 
no sooner met on 16 Oct. 1838, than it fell apart 
and became two bodies. Eighty-seven of its 
members avowed their adherence to the Assembly 
that met in the Seventh Church Philadelphia. 
Thirty-five adhered to that Assembly which went 
out of the Seventh Church into the First. Fifty- 
six protesting against any division, withdrew from 
both, and declared themselves to be the Synod. 
The two latter coalesced, and among them, were 
those ministers and elders of the Presbytery of 
Hudson, who had signed the protest of Mr. Timlow 
on 11 Sept. By this part of the Synod, the five 
ministers and eight elders were recognized as the 



134 HISTORY OF 

' ' Presbytery of Hudson, ' ' and were directed to 
meet on 27 Nov. 1838, at Ridgebury. They met 
and proceeded to business, recording the names of 
the other ministers among the " absentees," which 
they continued to do until on 21 April 1841, the 
clerks were instructed to omit them. * 

The other part of the Synod, Resolved : ' ' That 
all the Presbyteries be instructed to see that no 
ministers be considered as their members unless 
they shall previously have expressed their adher- 
ence to the Assembly which met and held its ses- 
sions in the Seventh Presbyterian Church Phila- 
delphia, in May last ; and also to exercise their 
watch and care that as far as possible all the 
churches may be preserved." 

On 16 April 1839, this Resolution was read 
in the Presbytery convened at Goshen and ' ' laid 
on the table. ' ' On 1 1 June it ' ' was taken from 
the table ' ' and in accordance therewith the follow- 
ing was adopted : ' ' Whereas, Daniel Crane, Arte- 
mus Dean, William Timlow, Daniel T. Wood, 
Isaac C. Beach and Blias R. Fairchild, ministers, 
have seceded from the ' Presbyterian Church in 
the U. S. A.' therefore Resolved: 'That the 
names of said ministers be and hereby are stricken 
from the roll of this Presbytery." And further : 
"Whereas, Church Sessions in the congregations 
of Amity, Chester, Middletown, Montgomery, 
Ridgebury and Unionville have united with others 



Min. of Presb. (N. S.) Vol. 1, p. 82. 






HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 35 

in forming and maintaining another Ecclesiastical 
Body, which they presume to denominate the 
' ' Presbytery of Hudson, ' ' therefore Resolved : That 
said Sessions be informed that unless they shall at 
our next stated meeting satisfactorily explain their 
disorderly conduct, the Presbytery will proceed to 
take order in the case." 

On ii Sept. 1-839, the above Resolution was 
taken up, and after hearing statements from elders 
present from Amity and Middletown, and also 
discussing the subject to some extent, the Resolu- 
tion was " laid on the table," until the next stated 
meeting. 

On 22 April 1840, the resolution respecting the 
above named six churches was taken up and again 
laid on the table. " Bethlehem was added to the 
list and its Session cited to answer at the next 
meeting, for their disorderly conduct." On 9 
Sept. 1840, it was Resolved : "That the names of 
the churches of Amity, Bethlehem, Chester, Mid- 
dletown, Montgomery, Ridgebury and Unionville be 
stricken from the roll. " " Rev. Messrs. McCartee 
and Blain were appointed a committee to give 
' Certificates of Dismission ' to any of the mem- 
bers of said churches." 

This completed the Fourth Division of the 
Presbytery of Hudson, and the year 1840 may be 
regarded as the beginning of the Fourth Period of 
its History. 



IV. PERIOD OF DUAL EXISTENCE. 

1840 — 1870. 



CHAPTER XL 

BRIEF RECAPITULATION. — ROLL OF EACH PRES- 
BYTERY. SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES, CON- 
TINUED. 

The roll of ministers, which in 1820, contained 
fourteen names, was in 1840, increased to twenty- 
eight. To the roll of twenty-one churches, eleven 
had been added. Of these, Bethany, Carbondale, 
Honesdale and Mt. Pleasant had been set off on one 
side, and Nyack and Greenbush on the other. 
Blooming Grove had voluntarily severed its pre- 
carious attachment, and Forestburgh had become 
extinct. Rondout had just been stricken from the 
roll. 

There remained twenty-three, — to which number 
we may add Florida 2nd, Westtown 2nd, and 
Denton, formed in the interval between the division 
of the General Assembly in 1838, and the last offi- 
cial act which completed the division of the Pres- 
bytery in April 1840. 

The aggregate membership of these twenty-six 
churches was 3,547. 
(136) 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 



*37 



These twenty-eight ministers and twenty-six 
churches were arranged in two rolls, as follows : 

PRESBYTERY OE HUDSON, O. S. 
MINISTERS. 

Rev. Methuselah Baldwin, P. 
John Boyd, W. C. 
Charles Cummins, W. C 
Thomas Holliday, S. S. 
Benjamin VanKeuren, P. 
John J. Thompson, S, S. 
William Blain, P. . . 
Samuel Pelton, W. C. 
James R. Johnson, W 



CHURCHES. 

Scotchtown. 



Westtown. 
Centerville. 
Monroe. 
Goodwill. 



C. 



John H. Leggett, P. 



Hopewell. 
Milford. 
Deer Park. 



Ralph Bull, S. S. . . 
William G. Johnstone, P 
Edward D. G. Prime, co-pastor. 
Gershom Williams, W. C. 
Edwin Downer, W. C. 
James Russel, W. C. 

James Adams, P Monticello. 

James Wilson. 



Cochecton, vacant. 

Florida, 2nd, 

Goshen, 

Haverstraw, 

Hempstead, 

Liberty, 

White Lake, 



138 HISTORY OF 

PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON, N. S. 
MINISTERS. CHURCHES. 

Rev. William Timlow, P. . . Amity. 

Daniel T. Wood, P. . . Middletown. 

Elias R. Fairchild, W. C. 

Artemas Dean, P. . . . Bethlehem. 

Isaac C. Beach, P. . . . Chester. 

Daniel Crane, W. C. 

William Y. Miller, P. . Ridgebury. 

Obadiah M. Johnson, P. . Denton. 

George Pierson, P. . . . Florida. 

Robert G. Armstrong, P. , Montgomery. 

Unionville, vacant. 

Westtown, ' ' 

The individual history of the churches continued 
in alphabetical order, is as follows : 

1. AMITY.— On 21 April 1858, Rev. William 
Timlow was released from his pastoral relation. 
On 21 Sept. following, Mr. Edsall Ferrier was 
received as a licentiate from the ' ' Presbytery of 
New York," and on the 28th was ordained and in- 
stalled. On 18 April i860, Mr. Ferrier was 
released and dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of North 
River." On 3 April 1861, Rev. Henry J. Acker 
was received from the ' ' Presbytery of Iyong Island, ' ' 
and installed. On 21 Oct. 1863, Mr. Acker hav- 
ing been •' ' drafted ' ' to serve in the army, was 
recommended for a Chaplaincy. His application 
was successful, and at a special meeting on 31 Jan. 
1865, he was released. On 2 Mar. 1869, Mr- 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 39 

Acker was dismissed to the " Presbytery of North 
River." On 18 April 1864, Rev. Daniel O. Tim- 
low was received from the ' ' Fourth Presbytery of 
New York," and on 6 June 1865, installed. This 
pastorate continued nearly twenty years, and was 
terminated by his death 18 Jan. 1885. 

2. BETHLEHEM.— On 19 April 1842, Rev. 
Artemas Dean was released from his long pas- 
torate of twenty-eight years. On 18 April 1843, 
Rev. Jonathan B. Hubbard was received from the 
" Presbytery of Delaware," and 24 Oct. follow- 
ing, was installed. On 22 April 1846, Mr. Hub- 
bard was released, and on 28 Sept. 1847, dismissed 
to the " Presbytery of Troy. " On 4 Feb. 1847, 
Rev. John N. Lewis was received from the " Pres- 
bytery of North River, and installed. On 19 July 
1853, Mr. Lewis was released and on 21 Sept. 1858, 
dismissed to the "Presbytery of Hudson," (O. S.) 
On 1 Aug. 1854, at a special meeting of Presbytery, 
Alpheus Goodman, M. D., elder, from the Bethle- 
hem Church, requested "that the congregation of 
Bethlehem might be dismissed in order to place 
themselves under the care of the " Presbytery of 
North River."* It appeared that "as the congre- 
gation had never been called together to consider 
the change, the application was not in regular 
form." The Presbytery therefore Resolved : 
' ' That no action can be taken. ' ' 



* Min. of Presb. N. S. Vol. 11, p. 



140 HISTORY OF 

On 27 Sept. it was ascertained that " Bethlehem 
congregation had become connected with a Pres- 
bytery not in correspondence with us."f 

3. CENTREVIIXE.— On 10 Mar. 1846, Rev. 
Benjamin Van Keuren was released from Centre- 
ville and dismissed to the "North River Presby- 
tery." On 9 Sept. following, Mr. Thaddeus 
Wilson was licensed, and on 28 Sept. 1847, 
ordained and installed. On 16 Nov. 1852, Mr. 
Wilson was released and dismissed to the " Pres- 
bytery of New Brunswick." On 24 Jan. 1854, 
Rev. Oscar Harris was received from the ' ' Presby- 
tery of Elizabethtown," and installed. On 9 
Sept. 1863, Mr. Harris was released. Supplies 
were furnished by Presbytery until 19 April 
1865, when Rev. Holloway W. Hunt, of the "Pres- 
bytery of Elizabethtown," was appointed Stated 
Supply for one year. This relationship was re- 
newed from year to year until after the Reunion. 

4. CHESTER.— On 2 Dec. 1845, Rev - Isaac 
C. Beach was released, and on 22 April following, 
was dismissed to the " Presbytery of North River." 
On 27 Jan. 1846, Rev. James W. Wood ,was re- 
ceived from the " Presbytery of Rockaway," and 
installed. He discharged the duties of a faithful 
and successful pastorate until 17 Sept. 1862, when 
he was released, and on 19 Sept. 1865, dismissed 
to the " Fourth Presbytery of Philadelphia." 

On 11 Mar. 1863, Mr. Thomas Nichols, a licen- 
tiate of the " Presbytery of Tioga," was received, 
t Ibid., p. 24 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 141 

ordained and installed. Mr. Nichols continued to 
serve the church in Chester until 17 April 1871, 
when he was released, and on 19 Sept. dismissed to 
the ' ' North Classis of Long Island. ' ' 

5. COCHECTON.— On 8 Mar. 1839, inhabi- 
tants of Cochecton and Damascus, "among whom 
there was no officer of any church," unanimously 
elected nine trustees of the ' ' Presbyterian and 
Methodist Episcopal Society of the Town of 
Cochecton." The sum of $1,500, was raised for 
building a meeting house. The papers secured to 
the Presbyterians the privilege of buying the rights 
of the Methodists after ten years, by simply return- 
ing the amount of their subscriptions. On 20 Feb. 
1840, the meeting house was dedicated, free of debt. 
On 29 April 1855, the "First Presbyterian Church 
and Congregation of Cochecton," was organized, 
the subscriptions marked "Methodist" were paid 
back, and on 11 April 1856, that partnership ceas- 
ed. The pulpit was supplied by, Rev. George K. 
McEwen, 1 840-1 841 ; William Riddle, of "Pres- 
bytery of Raritan," 1 842-1 843 ; supplies every 
other Sabbath, by Presbytery, 1844. 

On 15 April 1845, R- ev - John Mole was received 
from the '.'Presbytery of Susquehanna," having 
already supplied Cochecton and Callicoon churches 
for some weeks. On 22 April 1846, the sum of 
$80, was assessed upon the churches for "sustain- 
ing Mr. Mole as Stated Supply" at those two 
points. * A similar proposition the next spring was 
* Min. of Presb. Vol. VII, pp. 159, 1S0. 



142 



HISTORY OF 



laid on the table, and a committee "was appointed 
to visit those churches and devise some method 
for adjusting their difficulties, "f The committee 
reported that ' ' those congregations desired the 
discontinuance of the present arrangement for sup- 
plying them after the first of January next." 

On 20 April 1848, " division and strife at Cochec- 
ton related solely to the continuance of Mr. Mole 
as Stated Supply, and he was advised and directed 
to cease from ministerial labors at Cochecton."* 
Mr. Mole then received a certificate of good stand- 
ing, and expressed his intention of traveling beyond 
the bounds of the Presbytery. On 12 Sept. 1849, 
this certificate was returned, and his name restored to 
the roll. In that year he was tried for ' ' unchristian 
and unministerial conduct," treated with great 
forbearance and consideration, and finally, on 19 
June 1850, by the unanimous vote of Presbytery, 
he was ' ' suspended from the functions of the min- 
istry and from the communion of the church, until 
he repent." Mr. Mole's appeal to the Synod, was 
sustained, and the suspension removed. On 21 
April 1852, he was dismissed to the "Presbytery 
of New York ; " but the letter not being used, he 
was, on 20 April 1853, cited to answer a charge of 
felony, and the citation was repeated in June. 
On 13 Sept. his arrest and incarceration, made it 
impossible to serve the citation. The case was 
referred to Synod. But his conviction and sen- 



f Ibid. pp. 191, 210. 

* Min. of Presb. Vol. vn, pp. 221, 245. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 43 

tence to thirty months' imprisonment in Sing Sing, 
justified Presbytery in dropping his name from the 
roll. 

The supplies of this church, so far as ascertained, 
were after this, Rev. William Huntting, 1851 ; 
Rev. G. K. Mariner, 1852-1853. 

On 18 April 1854, Rev. Thomas Mack was 
received from the "Presbytery of Philadelphia," 
and appointed Stated Supply. On 13 Sept. follow- 
ing he was installed. On 25 May 1859, ne was 
released. 

Mr. Erastus Seymour, a licentiate of the ' ' Con- 
gregational Association of New York and Brook- 
lyn," began to supply them in i860, and on 16 
April 1 86 1, he was received and appointed supply 
for one year at Cochecton and Damascus. On 24 
April 1862, he was ordained and installed. On 5 
Nov. 1863, he was released, and on 17 April 
1866, dismissed to the "Fourth Presbytery of 
New York." The name of Rev. Samuel Mur- 
doch appears among the supplies of the next two 
years. On 19 April 1865, Mr. Theron Brittain, a 
licentiate of the "Presbytery of New Brunswick," 
having for several months preached at Cochecton, 
was received, and on 16 May, ordained " sine 
tituloy He continued as Stated Supply, until 5 
Mar. 1872, when he was installed. 

6. DEER PARK.— On 27 April 1841, Rev. 
William G. Johnstone was released and dismissed 
to the "Presbytery of Pictou." On 19 April 
1842, Mr. Edward B. Edgar was received from the 



144 HISTORY OF 

"Presbytery of New York," and on 3 May, or- 
dained and installed. He was released on the 1 
Mar. 1850, and dismissed to the " Presbytery of 
Elizabeth." On 10 Sept. 1850, Mr. Luther 
Ivittell was received as a licentiate from the 
" Presbytery of Elizabeth town, " and on the 25th, 
ordained and installed. His pastorate continued 
until 3 Oct. 1 88 1. 

7. DENTON. — On 27 June 1839, a new meet- 
ing house was dedicated and a church organized 
with eight members. On 29 Oct. Rev. Obadiah 
M. Johnson was received from the ' ' Presbytery 
of Rockaway," and installed. On 5 Feb. 1840, 
the Session was directed to receive twenty mem- 
bers of the Goshen Church " on their application," 
they having complained that their request for 
letters of dismission had been denied. In April 
they reported sixty-two members. Mr. Johnson 
continued for thirty-four years faithfully to fulfill 
the duties of the pastoral office, and was released 
on 27 Oct., 1873. 

Their first meeting house was burned on 1 Feb., 
1858. A new and more commodious one of brick 
was erected at an expense of $4,500, and com- 
pleted so speedily as to be dedicated on 28 Dec. 
of the same year. 

. 8. FLORIDA.— On 13 Aug. 1839, Rev. George 
Pierson was received from the "Presbytery of 
Rockaway;" and installed. A pastoral relation 
which continued until 15 May 1878. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 45 

9. FLORIDA, Second.— On n Sept. 1839, 
the following action was taken by the Presbytery 
convened at Goodwill. " Whereas, it appears that 
a portion of the elders and other members of the 
church of Florida have — called and settled a 
minister over them, employing in such settlement 
the action of a body not in connection with the 
' General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 
the United States of America,' therefore resolved, 
That William Smith and "Daniel Poppiuo, elders, 
and such other members as continue to adhere to 
this Presbytery, are hereby recognized and declar- 
ed to be the Presbyterian Church of Florida."" 
Supplies were appointed until 14 Sept., when Rev. 
Charles Cummins, D.D., was installed. On 18 
April 1849, ^ r - Cummins was released and on 14 
Sept. 1852, dismissed to the "Presbytery of Cedar." 
On 25 Sept. 1849, Rev. William A. Westcott was 
installed ; and on 15 May i860, he was released. 
On 17 April 1S61, Rev. Edsall Ferrier was received 
from the ' ' Presbytery of North River, ' ' and in- 
stalled. His pastoral relation was dissolved on 13 
Sept. 1865. On 17 Oct. 1866, Rev. Henry A. 
Harlow was received from the " Presbytery of New 
Brunswick" and on 20 Nov. following, he was in- 
stalled. During his pastorate the meeting house 
was enlarged by the addition of twenty pews. 

10. GOODWILL.— On 15 April 1856, Rev. 
David Maclise of the " Presbytery of Albany," was 

* Min. of Presb. O. S. Vol. vi, p. 340. 
IO 



146 HISTORY OF 

called, and on 17 June following, he was received 
and installed, colleague of the venerable William 
Blain. On 9 June 1857, Mr. Blain died at the 
advanced age of seventy-three years, and Mr. 
Maclise remained sole pastor until, on 26 April 
1869, he was released and dismissed to the " Pres- 
bytery of New York." Supplies were furnished 
until, on 13 Oct., Rev. James M. Dickson was 
called. On 15 Feb. 1870, he was received from 
the "Presbytery of Newark," and installed. The 
membership at that time had become reduced to 
ninety-five. 

11. GOSHEN.— On 6 May 1840, Rev. Robert 
McCartee, D. D. , was received from the ' ' Second 
Presbytery of New York," and installed. On 31 
July 1849, ne was released and dismissed to the 
" Associate Reformed Presbytery of New York." 
On 16 Oct. 1849, Rev. William D. Snodgrass was 
received from the " Presbytery of New York," and 
on 7 Nov. following, he was installed. His pas- 
torate was long and peaceful and prosperous. He 
was facile princeps, among preachers. And those 
trained under his ministry were able "to give an 
answer to every man that asked a reason for the 
hope that was in them." 

12. HAVERSTRAW. *— On 23 June 1839, a 
number of citizens of the Town of Warren, Rock- 
land Co. , resolved : To invite Rev. James Hildreth 
to preach for them. The "A. H. M. Society" 



Local History by Rev. J. J. McMahon ; and Beers' History of 
Rockland County, 1884, p. 166, seq. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 47 

promised $200, in addition to $300, raised by them- 
selves, for his support. On 10 Mar. 1840, a com- 
mittee from the " Third Presbytery of New York," 
organized the " Haverstraw Presbyterian Church," 
with thirteen members, two of whom were consti- 
tuted elders. Twelve more joined on the 5 April. 
Simultaneously with the release of Rev. Samuel 
Pel ton from the united congregations of ' ' Hemp- 
stead and Haverstraw," this new organization re- 
solved to hold "morning services in the old Pres- 
byterian Church on the hill, and afternoon services 
in the Village of Warren." Within four years, 
these services resulted in the addition of one hun- 
dred and eighty-nine persons to the membership. 
Here is the vanishing point of that church of 
Haverstraw, whose history has been thus far re- 
corded in these pages. This organization, by the 
" Third Presbytery of New York," like a new slide 
in a double Camera, comes upon our vision while 
we are gazing upon ' ' the old church (of eighty- 
two members,) on the hill," where Mr. Pelton's 
resignation is just taking place. As light increases 
on the new, the old fades, and we wonder what 
has become of it. "Haverstraw," disappears from 
the pages of our records, and appears on the roll of 
the "Third Presbytery of New York." Shall we 
break the continuity of its history for this reason ? 
Let us rather assume a divine life, back of and in- 
dependent on ecclesiastical bodies, which lives, and 
grows and flourishes in spite of all the changes to 
which human infirmities may subject it ! On the 



148 HISTORY OF 

day of Mr. Pelton's release, 22 April 1840, "Hemp- 
stead" reported thirty-six members, and "Haver- 
straw ' ' eighty-two. One year later, ' ' Hempstead ' ' 
reported seventy-six members and "Haverstraw" 
disappears. Did forty of the eighty-two go to 
"Hempstead," whose new pastor, Rev. John N. 
Boyd, was installed on 11 Nov. 1840, and the 
majority of foity-two, merge themselves into the 
new organization ? It seems likely, for the reason 
that on 26 Feb. 1844, and in "the old meeting 
house on the hill," the new organization instructed 
their trustees to offer Rev. Samuel Pelton $300, as 
payment in full for pastoral services, which ended 
as has been seen, in 1840 ; and Mr. Pelton acqui- 
esced, and gave the trustees a receipt in full. * 

On 24 June 1845, the old meeting house acquired 
a new lease of life. The pews were sold to the 
highest bidder above the rent, payment to be made 
semi-annually in advance. But the time came to 
build new. The last service was held in the old 
building on 21 Nov. 1847. ^ was then bought by 
Elisha Peck, who gave a more eligible site for a 
new one. After being used as a barn, this relic of 
a past age was burned. 

The Rev. James Hildreth's labors ceased on 4 
May 1848. Rev. Livingston Willard preached one 
year, during which on 8 Feb. 1849, the new meet- 
ing house was dedicated. In May 1850, Rev. 



* A recognition of the old organization on the part of the new, 
and an assumption by the new of the pecuniary obligations 
of the old. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 49 

James H. Trowbridge became their minister, re- 
signing his charge in Nov. 1853. On 7 Sept. 1854, 
Rev. P. G. H. Myers was installed, and on 30 Dec. 
1859, he was released. On 26 Nov. 1861, Rev. 
Spencer Marsh was installed, and closed his min- 
istry in the spring of 1868. On 6 Sept. 1868, Rev. 
James J. McMahon, pastor at Stony Point, became 
Stated Supply, and so continued until the close of 
1875, when he was released from Stony Point, and 
on 9 May 1876, installed pastor of this "First 
Church of Haverstraw. ' ' 

13. HEMPSTEAD.— On 11 Nov. 1840, Mr. 
John N. Boyd was ordained and installed. On 20 
April 1852, his pastoral relation was dissolved. 
On 19 April 1853, Hempstead and Rockland L,ake 
churches united in a call upon Rev. Abijah Green. 
The call was read and referred to a committee, 
which reported against its prosecution on the 
ground of the large and decided minority vote, 
and the congregations were ' ' urged to seek for 
greater unanimity in a matter so important." 

On 17 Oct. 1854, Rev. Samuel Kellogg was re- 
ceived from the ' ' Presbytery of Bedford, ' ' and 
became Stated Supply until April (?) 1864, after 
which supplies were furnished by Presbytery for 
several years. On 12 Sept. 1866, a call upon Rev. 
Thomas Mack, from Hempstead, was read and laid 
upon the table, pending a request from that people, 
for Presbytery to concur with them in asking the 
Synod to transfer them to the ' ' Second Presbytery 



150 HISTORY OF 

of New York." The request was granted and the 
transfer made. 

14. HOPEWELL.— On 26 Dec. 1855, Rev. 
John H. Leggett was released. On 17 June 1856, 
Rev. Andrew Johnston was received from the 
" Associate Reformed Presbytery of Saratoga," and 
installed. On 7 July 1866, he was released and 
dismissed to the " Presbytery of St. Lawrence." 

On 17 Oct. 1866, Mr. Benjamin G. Benedict, a 
licentiate of the " Presbytery of Connecticut " was 
received, and seven days later installed. He was 
released on 15 Feb. 1870, and on 20 Oct 1875, he 
was dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of Chicago. ' ' 

15. LIBERTY.— On 30 Sept. 1840, Mr. James 
Petrie was ordained and installed. In 1844, there 
was an awakening, in which no fewer than seventy 
souls were added to the membership. On 13 Jan. 
1852, Mr. Petrie was released and dismissed to the 
' ' Presbytery of Elizabeth. ' ' 

On 28 Sept. 1852, Rev. John N. Boyd was in- 
stalled. On 28 Sept. 1858, he was released and on 
14 Dec. dismissed to the "Presbytery of North- 
umberland. ' ' 

On 25 May 1859, Rev. Thomas Mack was in- 
stalled. On 17 Oct. 1866, he was released and on 
21 April 1868, dismissed to the "Second Presby- 
tery of New York. ' ' 

On 22 April 1868, Rev. John N. Husted was re- 
ceived from the "Presbytery of Monmouth," and 
on 10 June installed. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 151 

16. MIDDLETOWN.— On 18 Aug. 1859, Rev - 
Daniel T. Wood, who for over twenty-nine years 
had served this church, was released by the Mas- 
ter's call to " come up higher." On 29 Nov. fol- 
lowing, Rev. Augustus Seward was installed, 
whose pastorate continued until 1 Oct. 1879. 

17. MILFORD. — Rev. Edward Allen was 
Stated Supply at Milford in 1 841-2. Rev. William 
Bel den in 1843-4. Rev. Charles Milne, after sup- 
plying them for some months, was received from 
the "Presbytery of Newton" on 28 Sept. 1847, 
and took a dismissal to the ' ' Presbytery of Albany, ' ' 
on 18 July 1848. 

On 16 May 1849, Mr. 'Thomas S. Bradner was 
licensed, and on 2 Oct., ordained and installed. 
On 19 Oct. 1852, he was released and dismissed to 
the ' ' Presbytery of Bedford. ' ' 

On 18 April 1854, Rev. Isaac Todd was received 
from the "Presbytery of Susquehanna" and ap- 
pointed Stated Supply. He remained .until 16 
April 1 86 1, when he was dismissed to the " Pres- 
bytery of Monmouth." 

From- July 1861, until his death, 25 Sept. 1866, 
Rev. Robert Ransom Kellogg, a member of the 
Presbytery of Hudson, N. S., was Stated Supply. 

Rev. Robert H. Beattie was received from the 
" Presbytery of North River" on 11 Sept. 1867, 
and was supply from the previous January, until on 
3 May 1870, he was dismissed to the " Classis of 
Orang-e. ' ' 



152 HISTORY OF 

1 8. MONROE.— On 22 April 1846, a portion 
of the church and congregation of Monroe re- 
quested a discontinuance of the services of Rev. 
John Jay Thompson ; and Presbytery recommended 
that he remain until the next meeting of Presby- 
tery, when his connection with them should cease. 

On 7 March 1848, Mr. Daniel N. Freeland was 
received as a licentiate from the " Presbytery of 
Philadelphia," and ordained and installed. A 
new house of worship was erected in the village 
and dedicated 15 Feb. 1853. Mr. Freeland con- 
tinued in the pastorate at Monroe until 23 Oct. 
1 881, when he was released and dismissed to the 
' ' Presbytery of Westchester. ' ' 

19. MONTGOMERY.— On 5 Feb. 1840, Rev. 
Robert G. Armstrong was received from the 
"Presbytery of North River" and installed. On 
21 April 1841, he was released. On 28 Sept. 1842, 
Rev. E. R. Fairchild was dismissed to the "Third 
Presbytery of Philadelphia." On 2 Feb. 1841, 
Rev. W. W. Newell was received on examination 
and installed. On 28 Sept. 1847, ne was released 
and dismissed to the "Presbytery of Onondaga." 
One hundred and sixty-five were received into the 
church during his ministry ; and a parsonage was 
built. 

On 27 Sept. 1848, Rev. Elias R. Fairchild was 
received from the "Fourth Presbytery of Phila- 
delphia," and appointed Stated Supply. Through 
the liberality of General Borland in donating land 
for a Cemetery, and the financial skill of Dr. Fair- 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 53 

child in connection with its sale, the debt of $2,300 
was lifted. 

On 4 Sept. 1850, Rev. Gideon N. Jndd was re- 
ceived from the "Presbytery of Columbia" and 
installed. He died in the pastoral office on 3 
March i860, and was buried in Bloomfield, N. J. 
In April i860, Rev. B. R. Fairchild again became 
their Stated Supply. 

On 13 Aug. 1862, Rev. Joseph McNulty was 
received from the ' ' Associate Reformed Presbytery 
of Saratoga " and installed. On 22 April 1868, he 
was released and dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of 
Chippewa. ' ' There were fifty-five additions to the 
church from the world in his time. 

On 23 Oct. 1868, Rev. Richard Bentley was re- 
ceived from the ' ' Presbytery of Cincinnati, ' ' and 
on 10 Nov., installed. On 21 Nov. 1871, he was 
released and dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of 
Guelph," of the Canada Presbyterian Church. 
During his pastorate $2,000 were expended in 
repairs upon the church and parsonage. 

20. MONTICEIvU).— On 2 Oct. 1853, Rev. 
James Adams was released from a twenty years' 
pastorate. He died 7 Feb. 1857. On 11 May 
1854, Rev. Richard C. Shimeall was received from 
the ' ' Presbytery of New York ' ' and installed. 
On 8 Sept. 1857, the congregation requested Pres- 
bytery to release them from this relation. On 7 
Oct., a remonstrance, signed by eighteen members 
of the congregation, was received ; a counter 
remonstrance also was read, and all parties were 



154 HISTORY OF 

heard. The Presbytery then resolved by a vote of 
nineteen to one, to dissolve the pastoral relation. 

On 28 Sept. 1858, Rev. John N. Lewis was re- 
ceived from the Presbytery of Hudson, (N. S.) and 
the next day he was installed. On 19 April 1859, 
Rev. R. C. Shimeall was dismissed to the "Presby- 
tery of New York." On 17 April 1866, Mr. Lewis 
was released, and on 5 Oct. following, he departed 
this life. 

On 9 Sept. 1862, Mr. Samuel B. Dod was re- 
ceived as a licentiate from the " Presbytery of New 
Brunswick," and ordained and installed at Monti- 
cello. On 6 Oct. 1864, he was released and dis- 
missed to the "Presbytery of Luzerne." On 16 
May 1865, Mr. Robert A. Davison was received 
as a licentiate from the " Central Presbytery of 
Philadelphia," ordained and installed. On 9 Feb. 
1869, he was released and dismissed to the " Pres- 
bytery of New York." 

21. RIDGEBURY.— On 27 Nov. 1838, Mr. 
William Y. Miller was received from the "Third 
Presbytery of New York," as a licentiate, and or- 
dained " sine tituloy On 2 May 1839, he was 
installed at Ridgebury. On 28 Sept. 1847, ne 
was released, and on 26 Sept. 1849, dismissed to 
the ' ' Presbytery of Chicago. ' ' 

The pulpit was supplied partly by Presbytery, 
and for six months in 1849, by a Rev. Mr. Kin- 
mor. On 14 Oct. 1849, Rev. Augustus Seward 
began to supply the pulpit and continued until the 
close of 1 85 1. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 55 

On 20 April 1852, Rev. Clifford S. Arms was 
received from the ' ' Presbytery of Newark, ' ' and 
on 1 Dec. of that year was installed. His pastor- 
ate ended with his death, in Oct. 1863. 

On 21 Oct. 1863, Rev. Nathaniel E. Pierson 
was received from the "Presbytery of Chemung," 
and on 8 Dec, installed. On 1 July 1869, he was 
released and dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of Eake 
Superior." 

On 21 Sept. 1869, Mr. James R. Campbell be- 
came the Stated Supply. On 30 Nov. he was 
received as a licentiate of the "Presbytery of New 
York," ordained and installed. On 23 Oct. 1870, 
he was released. 

22. SCOTCHTOWN.— On 17 Feb. 1847, the 
venerable Methuselah Baldwin, who had been 
identified with the Scotchtown church from its 
beginning, was called away by death, and Rev. 
Edward D. G. Prime remained sole pastor. 

On 24 Dec. 1851, Mr. Prime was released, 
and on 16 Oct. 1855, dismissed to the " Presbytery 
of Nassau. ' ' 

On 19 Oct. 1852, Mr. David Beattie was received 
as a licentiate from the " Presbytery of New York, " 
and on 4 Nov., he was ordained and installed. 
• 23. UNION VILLE.— The local history states 
that Rev. Alexander Olympus Peloubet was Stated 
Supply from Sept. 1840, to Jan. 1845. On 28 Sept. 
1842, he was received from the "New York Con- 
gregational Association," and on 23 Feb. 1847, he 
was dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of North River. ' ' 



156 HISTORY OF 

Rev. J. S. Ward was a supply for a short time in 
the spring of 1846. On 21 July 1846, Mr. Augus- 
tus Seward was licensed, and after supplying this 
church and Westtown, Second, for some months, 
he was, on 23 Feb. 1847, ordained and installed 
pastor of these united congregations. On 26 Sept. 
1849, this relation was severed. On 25 Sept. 1850, 
Rev. Nathaniel E. Pierson was received from the 
" Presbytery of Rockaway " and installed. In Jan. 
1854, the Unionville church having rebuilt and 
enlarged their house of worship, rededicated it. 
Twenty additions to the membership were reported 
in April 1855. 

On 21 Oct. 1857, Mr. Pierson was released and 
dismissed to the "Presbytery of Chemung." On 
3 May 1859, Rev. Henry F. Wadsworth was 
received from the " Presbytery of Rockaway " and 
installed. 

24. WESTTOWN. — In June 1840, Rev. 
Thomas Holliday died at Westtown. On 26 Jan. 
1841 Rev. Ralph Bull was installed, and continued 
pastor until 30 Sept. 1866. 

On 17 April 1867, Rev. Duncan C. Niven was 
received from the " Presbytery of Connecticut," 
and on 21 May, installed. On 29 April 1868, there 
were eighty additions to the membership, reported. 

25. WESTTOWN, Second.— On 29 Dec. 1838, 
at a meeting of the Westtown congregation, called 
for the purpose, it was Resolved, by a large majority, 
not to invite Rev. Peter Kanouse, of the " Presby- 
tery of Newark," then supplying the church at 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 57 

Unionville, to supply them one-half his time. The 
Moderator and Clerk of the meeting, with those in 
favor of Mr. Kanouse, immediately withdrew and 
formed the Second Church of Westtown. 

On 23 July 1840, Mr. Kanouse was dismissed to 
the " Presbytery of North River." This church 
was united with that at Unionville, as one pastoral 
charge. On 16 April 1845, Presbyterial supplies 
were appointed for thirteen Sabbaths. 

This organization seems to have steadily de- 
clined in numbers. A committee of Presbytery, 
23 April 1858, reported that they were " not pre- 
pared to entertain the question of dissolution."* 
On 20 April 1864, another committee was in- 
structed to urge their disbanding, ' ' for the credit 
of religion and their own spiritual interest, "f 
And on 20 Sept. provision was made for the regu- 
lar dismission of its members to other churches. 

26. WHITE LAKE.— On 15 Sept. 1841, Rev. 
William B. Reeve, of the "Presbytery of Woos- 
ter," had leave to labor at White L,ake. On 19 
April 1842, he was received, and on 28 June, in- 
stalled. 

On 17 April 1844, an ingathering of thirty-one 
souls from the world, was reported. On 20 April 
1848, Mr. Reeve requested a dissolution of his 
pastoral relation ; but on the unanimous non- 
curreuce of the congregation, Presbytery "Re- 
solved, That it was inexpedient to grant his 



* Min. of Pres. N. S., Vol. 11, p. 210. 
t Ibid., p. 418. 



158 



HISTORY OF 



request." He was released on 7 Oct. following, 
and on 2 Oct. 1849, ne was dismissed to the 
' ' Presbytery of Long Island. ' ' 

On 16 May 1849, Mr - William J. Blain was or- 
dained and installed. On 15 May 1853, he was 
released. On 5 May 1857, Rev. Loring Brewster 
was installed, and on 19 Oct. 1858, his pastoral 
relation was dissolved. 

On 19 April 1859, Rev. James Petrie was ap- 
pointed Stated Supply, and so continued until 9 
Sept. 1862, when he was dismissed to the "Pres- 
bytery of Newton." 

On 10 Sept. 1862, Mr. Walter S. Brown was 
licensed, and on 14 Sept. 1864, installed. On 17 
April 1867, he was released, and on 2 April 1868, 
•dismissed to the " Classis of Orange." On 28 
Sept. 1869, Mr. Elijah B. Wells was ordained and 
installed. 



CHAPTER XII. 

SKETCHES OF CHURCHES RECEIVED UNDER THE 
CARE OF PRESBYTERY DURING THIS PERIOD. 

In addition to these twenty-six churches com- 
prising the rolls of the two Presbyteries of Hudson 
in 1840, 110 fewer than sixteen others were received 
under their care up to the year 1870. The first of 
these was : 

1. WASHINGTON VILLE.— On 10 Aug 1841, 
a church was organized at Washingtonville with 
twenty-two members, of whom four were consti- 
tuted elders. The movement was identified with 
the services of Rev. Henry' Belden, whose labors 
were greatly blessed. Eighteen members were 
added in 1842, and seventy in 1843. Mr. Belden 
left in April 1844, and in Nov. following, Rev. 
Phinehas Robinson began to preach there. At the 
end of three years the membership was one hun- 
dred and twenty-four, and the congregation still 
worshiped in the Academy. In April 1847 "Trie 
Presbyterian Church and Congregation of Wash- 
ingtonville," became a corporate body. A lot was 
secured, and a meeting house built ; which was 
dedicated free of debt, in August 1848. 

On 27 Sept. 1848, the congregation presented a 
call upon Rev. Euther Halsey, D.D., which they 
had leave to prosecute before the ' ' Presbytery of 

(159) 



160 HISTORY OF 

Elizabeth town. " He served them as Stated Sup- 
ply until 5 Oct. 1856, when that relationship ceased 
by voluntary action on the part of Dr. Halsey. 
During this time a parsonage was bought, and a 
lot for a cemetery also. At this juncture occurred 
that unhappy division which resulted in the reduc- 
tion of the membership to fifty. * 

On 12 Jan. 1857, a committee was appointed on 
the affairs of the church. Supplies were furnished 
until, on 24 Aug. 1858, Rev. Daniel Higbee was 
received from the ' ' Presbytery of Rockaway ' ' and 
installed. He continued pastor until his death, on 
20 Oct. 1867. 

On 21 April 1868, Mr. John V. Griswolcl was 
received as a licentiate of the "Third Presbytery 
of New York," and on 16 June, he was ordained 
and installed. 

2. CIRCLEVILXE— Was organized on 5 Nov. 
1841, with eleven members, and on 27 Sept. 1842, 
was taken under the care of Presbytery. Three 
were ordained to the eldership and soon after two 
others. In 1842 a meeting house was built on a 
lot given by Samuel Bull ; a parsonage was also 
erected on the same tract, while another portion 
was set off for a cemetery. 

On 27 Sept. 1842, Rev. Philander Burnham 
was received from the "New York Congregational 
Association," and on second Tuesday of Oct. he 
was installed. On 6 Aug. 1844, he was released. 

* Min. of Pres., N. S., Vol. 11, pp. 106-13S. Also Local Hist, 
by Hon. Augustus Denniston. 






HUDSON PRESBYTERY. l6l 

Mr. Nathaniel Elmer was licensed 19 April 1843, 
ordained, " sine titulo^ 24 Oct. 1844, and installed 
at Circleville, 2 Dec. 1845. He was released 28 
Sept. 1847, and on 26 Sept. 1848, dismissed to the 
" Presbytery of Chemnng." 

In Dec. 1847, ^- ev - Albert Worthington became 
Stated Supply, was received by letter from the 
"Consociation of L,ong Island" on 19 April 
1848, and was dismissed to the " Presbytery of 
Montrose" on 16 April 1850. On 16 Oct. Rev. 
Alexander Olympus Peloubet was received from 
the "Presbytery of Newark," and on 12 Nov. 
1850, installed. On 21 April 1858, he was re- 
leased. At the same meeting of Presbytery, Rev. 
Henry Osborn was received from the " Presbytery 
of Chemung." He acted as pastor-elect from 20 
April 1859, until 21 April 1867, when he was dis- 
missed to the "Presbytery of Ripley." 

In Dec. 1867, Rev. John N. Boyd became 
Stated Supply, and on 19 May 1868, he was received 
from the ' ' Presbytery of Northumberland. ' ' His 
labors ceased in April 1871. 

3. HAMPTONBURGH.— This church is the 
legal successor of the "Associate Reformed Church 
of Hamptonburgh," and through it, of the old 
"Associate Church of Neelytown." The latter 
was formed by a large minority of the Wallkill 
Church, during the ministry of Rev. John Moffat, 
about the year 1767. On 15 April 1767, Rev. 
Robert Annan of the "Associate Presbytery of 



1 62 HISTORY OF 

Pennsylvania," was called to "the congregations 
of Little Brittain and Wallkill," (Neelytown), and 
on 2 Oct. 1772, he was installed over these united 
Associate congregations.* "On 10 Jan 1769, a 
half acre of land, upon which a meeting house hath 
been begun, was conveyed to trustees by William 
Eager, Jr. ' ' This meeting house was inclosed and 
weather-boarded only. It needed no chimney and 
had no steeple, for there was neither bell nor arti- 
ficial heat, except in foot-stoves, connected with its 
services of public worship. 

Mr. Annan's pastorate closed in 1783, just as his 
double charge had been merged into the new 
"Associate Reformed Presbytery of New York," 
(1782.) 

After thirteen years of occasional preaching, the 
Rev. John Mcjimsey was installed, on 22 Dec. 
1796. He continued there until 1809, when he 
removed to Albany. Another vacancy of ten 
years was relieved by occasional Presbyterial sup- 
plies. In 1 8 19, Dr. Mcjimsey resumed his 
pastoral labors and continued there until 1832, 
when he resigned. 

In Feb., of that year, a new meeting house 
located at Campbell Hall, was dedicated, and the 
name of the organization was changed from ' ' The 
Associate Reformed Church of Neelytown, ' ' to the 
"Associate Reformed Church of Hamptonburgh. " 

On 1 Oct. 1833, Rev. Malcom N. McLaren was 
installed, and remained until Aug.- 1843, wnen ne 

* Records of Associate Presbyter}' of Pennsylvania. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 63 

was released. On 4 Jan. 1844, this church, at its 
own request, was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Hudson, (O. S.). Rev. James R. 
Johnston was called on 17 April, and on 19 Nov. 
he was installed. The meeting house at Campbell 
Hall, was resigned to the minority, who were 
opposed to the change of ecclesiastical relation, 
and in the summer of 1846, the present church and 
parsonage were built, about a mile further to the 
South. On 1 Dec. 1849, .Mr Johnston was released. 

On 18 June 1850, Rev. Slator C. Hepburn was 
received from the ' ' Presbytery of Northumber- 
land," and on 2 July following, was installed. 
This pastoral relation continues until this day. 

4. CALXICOON.— On 10 Sept. 1S44, a church 
was reported to Presbytery as duly organized at 
Youngsville under the title of the " The First Pres- 
byterian Church in the Town of Callicoon," in 
Sullivan County." Fifteen had been received on 
profession and several by letter. Messrs. George G. 
DeWitt and Stephen Carrier, were Elders. Move- 
ments looking to this result had been made by Rev. 
Samuel Pelton, Rev. James Petrie and Mr. DeWitt, 
at intervals during four years preceding. 

On 30 June 1845, trustees were elected and steps 
taken to build a meeting house. It was opened 
for religious services in the autumn of 1847. In 
i860 it was taken down and removed from near 
the residence of Mr. DeWitt to the village of 
Youngsville, where it now stands. 



164 HISTORY OF 

In 1844, Rev. William B. Reeve and Rev. James 
Petrie had supplied them with preaching, in the 
School House. In 1845 and 1846, Rev. John Mole, 
from Cochecton, preached every two weeks. From 
1846, to 1856, supplies were furnished by the 
Presbytery. The blighting effect of Mr. Mole's 
moral delinquencies, had sadly weakened the 
energies of the little church. A re-incorpora- 
tion was effected 1 Nov. 1859, an( ^ occasional 
preaching afforded by neighboring pastors. 

On 4 May 1859, Mr. Floyd A. Crane was or- 
dained " sine titulo ;" and on 12 Sept. i860, he 
was appointed Stated Supply ' ' for one year from 
August." From Sept. 1861, supplies were sent 
by Presbytery, until, on 17 April 1866, Mr. Crane 
was again appointed Stated Supply, and so con- 
tinued until 1 87 1. 

5. ROCKLAND LAKE.— A committee ap- 
pointed 15 Sept. 1847, at Rockland Lake, in 
Rockland County, reported 19 April 1848, that 
they had organized a church with seventeen mem- 
bers. It was a joint pastoral charge with Hemp- 
stead for some years. On 14 Nov. 1855, Mr. 
Edward P. Crane, a licentiate of the ' ' Fourth 
Presbytery of New York," was received, ordained 
and installed. 

On 2 June 1857, Mr. Crane was released, and on 
6 Oct. dismissed to the "Florida Presbytery." 

On 19 Oct. 1858, this church was transferred to 
the " Presbytery of New York." 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 65 

6. PORT JERVIS.— On 2 June 1851, this 
church was organized with five elders and twenty- 
six members. On 3 Feb. 1852, Rev. Augustus 
Seward was installed, and on 20 Sept. 1859, his 
pastoral relation was dissolved. 

On 15 Nov. following, Mr. James T. Matthews 
was received as a licentiate from the "Third 
Presbytery of New York ; ' ' ordained ' ' sine titulo, ' ' 
and appointed Stated Supply. On 18 Sept. i860, 
he was dismissed to the "Congregational Con- 
sociation of Milwaukee." 

On 14 Aug. i860, Rev. Livingston Willard was 
received from the "Presbytery of Rockaway " 
and installed. On 16 Oct. 1861, he was released 
and dismissed to the "Presbytery of Rochester. " 
Supplies were furnished by Presbytery from time 
to time, until on 17 April 1867, R- ev - Alfred P. 
Botsford was received from the ' ' Presbytery of 
Newark " and on 4 June following, installed. 

7. MIDDLETOWN, Second.— A committee 
appointed on 13 Sept. 1854, to organize a second 
church in the Village of Middletown, reported on 18 
April 1855, an organization of twenty-seven mem- 
bers. On 13 Mar. 1856, their meeting house was fin- 
ished and dedicated. On 26 June 1 856, Rev. John H. 
Leggett, who had been called on 26 Dec. previous, 
was installed. He continued pastor until 12 Jan. 1864, 
when he was released and dismissed to the " Second 
Presbytery of New York." On 14 Sept. 1864, 
Mr. Charles Beattie was received as a licentiate 
from the "Presbytery of North River," and on 6 



1 66 HISTORY OF 

Oct. following, he was ordained and installed. The 
chnrch edifice was enlarged in 1865, and a commo- 
dious parsonage erected 011 an adjoining lot, in 
1867. 

8. NORTH BRANCH.— On 13 Sept. 1854, the 
"Church and Congregation of North Branch" 
applied to be taken under the care of Presbytery. 
The request was granted, the church was enrolled, 
and Marshall B. Tuthill elder, was admitted as a 
member of Presbytery. Supplies were furnished 
in connection with Cochecton for a few years, but 
the business of the place declined rapidly and on 
18 April i860, the organization was dissolved. 

9. OTISVILXE.— The coming of the Erie 
Railway, stimulated the growth of the little hamlet 
of "Deer Park Four Corners," and the spiritual 
needs of its people soon attracted attention. In 
1848, the "New Jersey Conference" organized a 
society, which built a house of worship. Into this, 
several families of the Old Deer Park Church, dis- 
satisfied with its removal to Mount Hope, were 
gathered. In 1854, these and others applied for 
preaching to the Presbytery. Supplies were sent, 
and on 24 Mar. 1855, the first movement was made 
to organize a church. On 18 April, the church 
with fifteen members was taken under the care of 
the Presbytery. On 27 June the Society was in- 
corporated and measures taken which resulted in 
the dedication of a house of worship, completed 
and furnished, on 24 Sept. 1856. 

An effort to secure the Rev. A. O. Peloubet of 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 67 

Circleville as pastor, 16 Dec. 1856, was not favored 
by Presbytery. Rev. Moses H. Wilder was Stated 
Supply from 13 Mar. 1858, until 2 May 1859, and 
Rev. William N. Page until May i860. On 23 
Dec. 1862, Rev. R. S. Betts was received from the 
" Classis of Ulster," and installed. On 18 April 
1865, he was released, and on 20 April 1870, dis- 
missed to the " Presbytery of Monmouth." During 
his pastorate attempts were made, aided by the 
Presbytery, to liquidate the debt upon the church. 

Mr. Francis W. Faries, a licentiate of the " Pres- 
bytery of New Brunswick," began to supply them 
in 1867. O n 2I April 1868, he was received, and 
on 19 May, ordained and installed. The church 
succeeded in cancelling its debt and had begun 
preparations to build a parsonage, when on 27 Feb. 
1 87 1, Mr. Faries was released and dismissed to the 
' ' Presbytery of Paris, ' ' in Canada. 

10. JEFFERSON VILLE.— This church was 
taken under the care of Presbytery on 16 Oct. 
1855. On 6 April 1858, Rev. Herman Veith was 
received from the ' ' Presbytery of Luzerne, ' ' and 
became Stated Supply. On 15 May i860, he was 
dismissed to the "Presbytery of Chilicothe." On 
26 June following, Rev. J. J. Simon became Stated 
Supply. On 12 Sept. he was received as a foreign 
minister on probation. On 5 Oct. 1862, Mr. Simon 
was dismissed to the "Indiana Classis of the 
German Reformed Church." 

On 13 July 1864, Committees of Presbytery and 
Classis, held a conference and adopted resolutions 



1 68 HISTORY OF 

conducive to harmony between the rival German 
congregations of JefFersonville. On 14 Sept. 1864, 
Rev. Albert J. Winterick was received from the 
" Presbytery of Luzerne," and on 27 Oct., installed. 
On 29 June 1869, he was released and dismissed to 
the "Presbytery of Passaic." On 3 May 1870, 
Mr. Lesco Trieste, a licentiate of the ' ' Presbytery 
of Alleghany City, ' ' was appointed Stated Supply 
for six months. 

11. WASHINGTON VILLE, Second.— On 30 
Dec. 1856, "a petition was presented, signed by 
forty-eight persons, representing themselves to be 
a majority of the members and pew-holders of the 
' First Presbyterian Church and Congregation of 
Washingtonville, ' and requesting to be received 
into connection with and under the care of this 
(O. S.) Presbytery, as such."* At the same time 
persons and papers were heard ' ' showing the char- 
acter and extent of the opposition existing in that 
church to the chauge sought for in the petition." 
"After discussion, it was Resolved, That the 
prayer of the petitioners be granted, and that the 
' First Presbyterian Church of Washingtonville ' 
be received under the care of this Presbytery. ' ' 

On 12 Jan. 1857, tlie Presbytery (N. S.), took 
into consideration the above action and Resolved, 
to issue a pastoral letter, and to express sympathy 
and pledge encouragement and assistance to ' ' our 
church and congregation in Washingtonville, in 



* Min. of Presb. O. S. Vol. vin, p. 15. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 69 

the trials to which they have been subjected, "f 
On the 27th, they adopted and arranged for the 
printing of the pastoral letter ; and on 21 April, 
adopted a complaint of the action taken by the 
Presbytery of Hudson, (O. S.) respecting the 
church in Washingtonville, and directed it to be 
forwarded to their General Assembly. 

On 3 Feb. 1857, th e Presbytery (O. S.), received 
Rev. Imther Halsey, D. D. , from the ' ' Presbytery 
of Passaic," advised the church in Washington- 
ville, — restrained by "injunction" from "inter- 
fering with public worship in the church at the 
ordinary hours of worship," — "to continue their 
public worship at such times and places as they 
may find most convenient," and also that addi- 
tional elders be elected and ordained. J 

On 21 April they also adopted and provided for 
the publication of a review of the ' ' pastoral letter ' ' 
above. The ' ' review ' ' was published and replied 
to ' ' in one of the County Papers. " " The Com- 
plaint," was laid before the General Assembly and 
acted upon. On 7 Oct. 1857, the Presbytery 
(O. S.) adopted the following on the said action of 
General Assembly (p. 23 of Min. 1857), "Whereas: 
This Presbytery has received no official notice or 
copy of this Complaint, be it therefore Resolved : 
That no action for the present seems to be required 
in the premises."! Dr. Halsey continued Stated 



t Min. of Pres. N. S., Vol. 11, pps. 106, 107. 
% Min. of Presb., O. S., Vol. vin, p. 18. 
I Ibid., p. 52. 



170 HISTORY OF 

Supply until on 16 April 1862, Mr. Arthur Harlow 
was licensed, and on 24 Sept. 1863, ordained and 
stalled pastor of the Washingtonville Second 
Church. 

12. DAMASCUS— On 5 Sept. 1857, nineteen 
members of the Cochecton Church were dismissed 
to form the "First Presbyterian Church of 
Damascus," Wayne County, Pa., four of whom 
were chosen elders. On 6 Oct., it was received 
under the care of Presbytery, and constituted a 
joint pastoral charge with Cochecton. 

13. BLOOMINGBURGH.— This church was 
originally Associate Reformed, and was organized 
in 1 8 10, when its first meeting house was built. 
Another and larger one was erected in 1834, and a 
parsonage in 1835. It was taken under the care 
of Presbytery on 28 Dec. 1858. At the same time 
Mr. Anthony R. Macoubrey, a probationer under 
the care of the ' ' Associate Reformed Presbytery 
of Alleghany," was received, ordained and in- 
stalled. On 21 May 1867, he was released, and 
dismissed to the "Presbytery of Connecticut." 
On 19 Nov. 1868, Rev. William A. Westcott was 
installed. 

14. ROCKXAND, First.— On 17 April i860, 
this church was received from the " Presbytery of 
Delaware. ' ' It was organized by a committee from 
that Presbytery, appointed 9 Mar. 1836, to visit the 
Beaverkill. On 27 June 1837, they reported "the 
church regularly organized as a Presbyterian 
Church, and that they requested to be received 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 17 1 

under the care of Presbytery. ' ' Their request was 
granted and the committee discharged. * 

On 15 May i860, Rev. James Norris of the " N. 
Y., M. E. Conference," was granted permission to 
supply them. On 17 April 1861, Mr. Norris was 
received as a member of Presbytery and appointed 
Stated Supply. 

15. HORTONVILXE.— On 20 July i860, a 
German Church was organized at Hortonville, in 
the Town of Delaware, Sullivan County, with 
eighty members and three elders. On 17 April 
1 861, it was dropped from the roll, "having de- 
clared itself no longer in connection with the 
Presbyterian Church." 

16. RAMAPO WORKS.— Data "from the long 
buried past of Books and Papers, ' ' excavated a few 
years since for the " History of Rockland County," 
— the more recently discovered ' ' Church Book, ' ' 
and the ' ' Minutes of the General Assembly, ' ' 
have supplied material for this Monograph of the 
earlier ' ' Church of Ramapo Works. ' ' The more 
recent organization finds its History outlined on 
the ' ' Records ' ' of the Presbytery of Hudson. 

After the Irish Rebellion of 1798, many Prot- 
estant Irishmen came to this country. Several 
hundred including their families, found a home 
and employment, in the early years of the century, 
in the iron works at ' ' Ramapo Works. ' ' Hidden 
among the forest-clad mountains, and contentedly 



Min. of Presb. of Delaware, per Rev. H. H. Allen, S. C. 



172 HISTORY OF 

busy, they had at that early day, little intercourse 
with the outside world. Their religious habits 
and instincts, however, soon asserted themselves, 
and the quaint meeting house with its high box 
pews and its little pentagonal pulpit, with low 
impending sounding-board, in which this congrega- 
tion is still worshiping, was erected for their 
accommodation in 1810, by Jeremiah H. Pierson, 
the proprietor of the Iron Works. 

"On 18 Jan. 181 2, ' the presbyteri an associa- 
tion of ramapo works ' was formed for the pur- 
pose of raising money to secure, the preaching 
of the Gospel by the accredited ministers of the 
Presbyterian Church." The subscribers, sixty-five 
in number, pledged themselves to pay, on the first 
Monday in July and January respectively, ' ' the 
sums affixed to our names." Those names attest 
at once the national type and the religious com- 
plexion of the founders of this church. There 
are no fewer than ten "Mc's," besides "Camp- 
bell," and "Graham," and "Wallace," and a 
score of other names redolent of heath and high- 
land in Scotland and Ireland. It is probable that 
they at once placed themselves under the care of 
the "Presbytery of Jersey," and that supplies 
were regularly furnished. The names of the sup- 
plies from 1 81 2 to 1832, are nearly all found on 
the roll of that Presbytery, and in the first list of 
churches published, in the Minutes of the General 
Assembly of 1819, "Ramapo" is among those of 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 73 

the "Presbytery of Jersey," marked, "V," and, 
"unable to support a pastor." 

Rev. Messrs. Gershom Williams, Henry Cook, 
John McDowell, Charles Cummins, Samuel Fisher, 
Stephen Thompson, Noah Crane, Cyrus Gilder- 
sleeve, Joshua Spaulding, Joseph Clark, Thomas 
Picton, Aaron Condit, and John M. Babbit, are 
some of those who served this church during the 
first twenty years of its existence. In 1823, the 
"Synod of New Jersey" was formed, embracing 
the Presbyteries of "Jersey," " New Brunswick, " 
"Newton" and "Susquehanna." The new 
Synod dissolved the "Presbytery of Jersey, " and 
formed the ' ' Presbytery of Newark, ' ' among the 
churches of which, appears the name of " Rama- 
pough," as late as 1834. 

Coincident with these Ecclesiastical changes was 
a special arrangement with Rev. Mr. Wynkoop, of 
a neighboring R. D. Church, to supply them for a 
year or more. But the familiar names of Presby- 
terian ministers appear again in 1826, and none 
more frequently than that of Rev. Samuel Fisher, 
settled at Morristown, N. J. , and associated with 
the Ramapo church from its beginning. He was 
for twenty-eight years deeply interested in its 
welfare. In 1814, he became pastor of the "First 
Church of Paterson," N. J., and during the twenty 
years that he labored there, Ramapo was one of 
the outstations to which he devoted great attention. 
The "Church Book" has, in 1816, the words "to 
defray the expense of the parochial labors of 



174 HISTORY OF 

the Rev. Samuel Fisher." On 4 May 1834, 
"warned to seek less arduous duties,"* he re- 
signed his charge at Paterson, became a resident 
at Ramapo Works, and continued to reside 
and preach there upwards of six years, f In the 
Session Book of the First Church of Paterson is 
the record that on 11 Aug. 1834, his "wife and 
family with several others, were "dismissed to 
connect themselves with the church at Ramapo 
Works, — under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. 
Fisher." It was during his residence at Ramapo 
that he was chosen, by acclamation, Moderator of 
the General Assembly, N. S., in 1838. In Nov. 
1840, his relation to the church, and his residence 
at the Village of Ramapo Works, ceased. 

For the next seventeen years, it is difficult to 
find a clue to the continuity of church life, or to 
collect the evidences of existence. The meeting 
house was private property, and there was no cor- 
porate body. The same perplexity exists about 
the continued existence of the individual body be- 
tween death and the Resurrection. But since 
Christ said in general terms, "where two or three 
are gathered in my name there am I in the midst 
of them," and where Christ and members of his 
body are, there is the church — though confined to 
a single household, — so we may conclude, from the 
fact that preaching was continued with greater or 
less regularity at the ; ' Ramapo Works, ' ' that the 



* The Reunion Memorial Volume, 
t Memorandum at the Works. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 75 

church still lived, although ashes were on its altars 
and but few sparks glowed in the embers. 
He who does not "quench the smoking flax" 
however, evidently watched over its smouldering 
fires. Rev. J. C. Day is said to have supplied from 
1 841 to 1844, and Rev. S. J. Parker from 1845 to 
1846. On 22 April 1846, "Messrs. S. J. Parker 
and Timothy K. Ketcham appeared as commis- 
sioners from a body of Christian brethren in Ram- 
apo, and requested that a church be organized in 
that place," and taken under the care of Presby- 
tery, then convened at Ridgebury. A committee 
was appointed to go to Ramapo, on the second 
Monday in May, with power to organize, if the 
way seemed clear. On the 23 Sept., this com- 
mittee reported adversely, and no organization was 
then effected. After Rev. Mr. Parker, Mr. Wil- 
liam A. Westcott, who was licensed on 17 April 
1845, reported to his Presbytery on 21 April 1847, 
that "he was employed in his appropriate work." 
From data at Ramapo Works, he was exercising 
his gifts there, from 1846, until some time in 1848. 
He was ordained ' ' sine titulo, ' ' at Centerville on 
27 Sept. 1847. Rev - William H. Kirk, and Rev. 
S. J. Parker are mentioned as supplies from 1848 
until 1853, and Rev. William T. VanDoren, from 
1853 until 1857. 

With the death of Mr. Jeremiah H. Pierson in 
1855, at the advanced age of four score and ten 
years, manufacturing virtually ceased at Ramapo, 
the population soon after diminished, so that the 



176 HISTORY OF 

school house furnished for a while, the accommo- 
dation needed, and doors of pulpit, pews and 
church were closed. 

In 1863, the " Ramapo Car Works" were 
started, and religious services were for several 
years conducted by the Methodists. In 1867, the 
" Ramapo Wheel and Foundry Co." further stim- 
ulated the wheels of industry, and the population 
augmented. 

On 1 Sept. 1867, Rev. Henry Kendall, D.D., 
re-entered the pulpit, and must literally have 
"filled" it from floor to sounding-board, while he 
made the walls again re-echo the glad tidings of 
the gospel. 

The next Sabbath Rev. Goodloe B. Bell became 
their supply. On 1 Dec. Mr. William Van Wagenen 
and Henry L,. Pierson, Jr., were duly ordained to 
the eldership. 

On 21 April 1868, Rev. Goodloe B. Bell and 
Mr. Henry L. Pierson, Jr., commissioners on be- 
half of the congregation, requested the Presbytery of 
Hudson, in session in the First Church of Middle- 
town, to take under their care ' ' THE PRESBYTE- 
RIAN CHURCH OF RAMAPO WORKS."* Oil the 
same day, Mr. Bell was received from the "Third 
Presbytery of New York," the church was enrolled 
and Mr. Pierson took his seat as a member of 
Presbytery. Mr. Bell's labors closed in April 



Ramapo Works," — the name given to the village from the 
first, was adopted by the Post Office Department in 1807. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 77 

1871, when the original seven members had in- 
creased to forty. 

On 1 Nov. 1 87 1, Rev. Perez B. Bonney became 
Stated Supply. On 22 April 1873, lie was re- 
ceived by Presbytery and on 9 May, installed. 

The occasion was memorable as the first service 
of that kind in the church. On 1 Nov. 1875, Mr. 
Bonney' s pastoral relation ceased. He continued 
to decline in health and departed this life 29 May 
1877, in the thirty-ninth year of his age. 

.On 16 April 1876, Mr. George A. Ford, a 
licentiate of the "Presbytery of New York," be- 
came Stated Supply. On 13 Nov. 1876, he was 
received and ordained ' ' sine titulo. ' ' In April 
1880, he closed his labors at " Ramapo Works," 
and on 1 May, sailed for Syria under the appointment 
of the Board of Foreign Missions. Under his 
earnest labors the membership increased from 42 
to 139. During his pastorate in 1877, tne church 
was incorporated. On 20 April Mr. Bben B. Cobb 
was received from the "Presbytery of Cayuga," 
and on the 29th he was ordained and installed. On 4 
June 1886, Mr. Cobb was released and dismissed to 
the " Presbytery of Elizabeth." Under his active 
and fruitful ministry the membership increased 
from 139 to 222. 

Upon the same day, with the release of Mr. 
Cobb, the present pastor, Rev. Norman N. Skin- 
ner, a licentiate of the "Presbytery of New 
York," was received, ordained and installed. 
12 



i 7 8 



HISTORY OF 



Three vigorous Sunday Schools are sustained by 
the congregation, one of which is at Brook Chapel, 
among the colored people, in the mountains. The 
contributions to the Boards from the Ramapo 
Church, rank with the highest in the Presbytery. 






CHAPTER XIII. 

ANALYSIS OF THE PERIOD OF DUAL EXISTENCE. 

ESSENTIAL ONENESS OF THE TWO BODIES. — DIF- 
FER ONLY ON POINTS GROWING OUT OF THE PLAN 
OF UNION. — NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE REASONS 
FOR RE-UNION. THE RE-UNION ITSELF.- 

At the beginning of this period, there were two 
Presbyteries of Hudson, side by side, each claiming 
the prerogatives implied in the title. The larger 
of the two retained possession of the archives. 

In many things they might as well have discussed 
and voted and resolved together, so nearly alike were 
their deliverances. 

Their Annual Narratives faithfully reflected joy 
over revivals, sensitiveness in respect to public 
morals and sadness at any perceptible decay in 
vital piety. 

The gospel produced the same blessed results in 
the churches of the one, that made the other confi- 
dent that they were favored by the Master. 

The degree of success fluctuated, not in respect 
to each other, but in marked sympathy with the 
unparalelled events which agitated the world 
around them, E. G. : 

Did William Miller, for a year or more, loudly, 
learnedly and confidently predict that on 23 April 
1843, the "end of the world would come?" 

(179) 



l8o HISTORY OF 

In April 1843, the accessions to the churches of 
these Presbyteries from the world, for the year, 
numbered two hundred and ninety-two : but when . 
the air was vibrating with paeans over our victo- 
rious armies in Mexico, in 1847, there were but 
fifty-eight. Did fathers and husbands and brothers 
and sons, from family and farm and fane, has- 
ten to the gold fields, which that was inclosed 
within our national domain ? Not only was it, 
that men might be able to give "of the gold of 
Sheba, ' ' but also ' ' that prayer might be made 
continually."* As golden sands were showered 
upon the land, unceasing prayer from closet and 
fireside and pulpit ascended for those fathers and 
husbands and brothers and sons : while "showers 
of blessing," also, in 1851, brought three hundred 
and seven into the churches of these Presbyteries 
on confession~of their faith in Christ. Did the 
abundance of gold largely stimulate selfish greed, 
rather than the consecration of wealth to the cause 
of Him, who ' ' is exalted to give gifts to men ? ' ' 
Faithfully chastening whomsoever He loves, He 
"gave His people their request and sent leanness 
into the soul. ' ' f The records tell of but ninety-two 
additions in 1856. Did Isaiah sing, "When thy 
judgments are in^the earth, the inhabitants of the 
world will learn righteousness?"! The ruinous 
financial panic of 1857 was immediately followed 



* Ps. lxxii : 15. 
t Ps. cvi : 15. 
X Is. xxvi : 9. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 151 

by that wonderful awakening to the importance of 
eternal things, when ' ' the inhabitants of one city 
went to another saying, let us go speedily to pray 
before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of Hosts : " § 
and lo, the additions in 1859, were two hundred 
and nineteen. Did the political turmoil of i860, 
divert attention from religious matters, and the 
impending cloud of civil war affright the most 
courageous ? Bighty-five only confessed Christ 
that year for the first time, in all these congrega- 
tions. Did that civil war give occasion for the 
most magnificent display of Christian philanthropy 
that the world has ever seen, in the operations of 
the Sanitary and Christian Commissions? The 
words ' ' inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
the least of these, ye have done it unto me, ' ' ap- 
pealed to many as a personal call from the Suffer- 
ing Saviour ; and with this glowing patriotism, 
religious fervor also is indicated in 1864, by one 
hundred and twenty-one reported conversions. 
Then, most remarkable of all, after peace had 
come to the nation, and negotiations for repairing 
the breach in the walls of Zion were approaching 
a successful issue, in April 1869, the accessions re- 
ported on examination, in the O. S. Presbytery 
alone, were three hundred and eighty-four ; while 
those of the other body are not recorded in their 
minutes. 

Let it not be thought that these events had no 



\ Zech. viii : 21. 



1 82 HISTORY OF 

influence in shaping the history of these churches, 
and of these Presbyteries. Presbyteries are some 
of the wheels under the royal chariot of Him to 
whom ' ' is given all power in heaven and in 
earth;"* and in His majestic ongoings, "the 
spirit of the living creature in them,"f indicates 
their connection with His providential government 
of the world. Few congregations were unaffected 
by these external influences. Church members 
were scattered abroad, some ' ' everywhere preach- 
ing the word," others, "having no root in them- 
selves, withering away." Few cemeteries are 
without a soldier's grave ; few towns without a 
soldiers' monument, and few families whose 
prayers were not burdened with agony on account 
of loved ones in the Sierras, or "at the front." 

Under this providential sway of Him, who is 
' ' the Head over all things TO his church, "J no 
distinction can be perceived in favor of one Pres- 
bytery as against the other. There were in 
1840, — 3,547 communicants in the churches of 
both Presbyteries, and in 1870, there were 4,869, 
a gain of 1,322. 

In respect to patriotism, the O. S. Presbytery, on 
14 Sept. 1864, "Resolved, That loyalty to a legiti- 
mate government is a christian virtue, and should 
be inculcated from our pulpits. And, That it is 
the duty of each of our ministers to offer prayer 



* Matt, xxviii : 18. 
f Ezek. x : 17. 
% Eph. i : 22. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 83 

frequently and fervently and in unequivocal terms, 
for the President of these United States, and for all 
in authority under him, who constitute the admin- 
istiation ; for the Army and Navy ; and for the 
preservation and perpetuity of the government and 
the union of the 'States. ' ' 

On 18 April 1865, they spent the hour of the 
obsequies of Abraham Lincoln at Washington, in 
public devotional exercises, wore badges of mourn- 
ing during their sessions and put 011 record a series 
of five patriotic resolutions. * 

The N. S. Presbytery, adjourned, "that the 
pastors and elders might have opportunity to unite 
with their own congregations in such services as 
may be held in their respective places of worship. ' ' f 

Upon the great moral questions of the day also, 
they reached the same results. In regard to that 
standing menace to society, the traffic in and use 
of strong drink, the O. S. Presbytery, on 21 April 
1842, "Resolved, That we adhere to the principle 
of total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks, — 
not because it is ' malum per se ' to drink the least 
particle of intoxicating liquors, but because so 
many temptations and inducements present them- 
selves to the excessive use of such drinks that this 
is the only safe course." 

The N. S. Presbytery, among many other ex- 
pressions of their interest in this question, in Sept. 
1852, published six hundred copies of a pastoral 



* Min. of Presb. O. S. Vol. vni, p. 3^5 and 357. 
f Min. of Pres. N. S., Vol. 11, p. 448. 



I»4 HISTORY OF 

letter, which covers seven folio pages of the record, 
advocating in the strongest terms the prohibition 
of the traffic in strong drink, by legal enactment. J 
In 1856, both lament the retrograde movement 
in the temperance cause, and the consequent 
alarming increase of drunkenness, profaneness, 
Sabbath desecration and kindred vices. 

On the question of Slavery, both fully endorsed 
the action of their respective General Assemblies. 

On the question of the ' ' Sunday milk traffic, ' ' 
which arose in this period, the sessions were per- 
plexed to know what was duty ; and Presbytery 
was asked to consider it and advise them. 

The O. S. Presbytery, on 17 April 1845, "Re- 
solved, That in the judgment of this Presbytery, 
the sending of milk to the New York market on 
the Sabbath is a direct violation of the Fourth Com- 
mandment, and that its influence is calculated to 
be highly prejudicial to the moral and religious 
interests of those engaged in it and to the com- 
munity in general." 

The N. S. Presbytery, on the same date, upon 
an overture from the church of Chester, gave the 
subject most careful examination, — as seven folio 
pages of their records testify, — and then " Resolved, 
That the practice of carrying milk from our farms 
to the depots on Sunday, is in no wise to be toler- 
ated in the church of Christ ; and that such dis- 



J lb., Vol. 1, p. 513. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 85 

cipline be exercised as a last resort, as will cleanse 
the church of this sin." 

A similar overture was presented to the O. S. 
Presbytery in 1861, from the Goshen church, 
which, after much "discussion, and considering 
the difficulties surrounding the whole matter, was 
referred to the Synod for decision." But lit- 
tle disciplinary work seems to have been needed. In 
the one body, after a thorough investigation and a 
fair trial, one minister was suspended from the 
office of the ministry, in 1849 ; but on his repent- 
ance, the suspension was removed in the same 
year, and he was granted a certificate of good 
standing, on his dismission, f In the other body a 
similar investigation and trial in 1840, had failed 
to sustain the charge of ' ' conduct unbecoming a 
minister. ' ' J 

The O. S. Presbytery carried on its benevolent 
work through the Boards. On 22 Sept. 1841, they 
ordained Mr. Robert W. Sawyer, as a missionary 
to W. Africa, and recommended, the observance of 
the first Sabbath of November, as a day of special 
prayer ' ' that the I^ord of the harvest would send 
forth more labourers : " and that ministers should 
preach on the subject of Foreign Missions on the 
first Sabbath in Jan. next. * 

On 6 April 1858, they ordained Mr. Augustus 



t Min. of Presb., N. S., Vol. 1, pps. 334-379 and 403. 
t Min. of Presb., O. S., Vol. vi, p. 388. 
* Min. of Presb. Vol. vn, p. 29. 



1 86 HISTORY OF 

Broadhead, and on 14 Sept. 1859, dismissed him 
to the " Presbytery of Furrukhabad, " India. 

On 20 April 1864, Mr. Samuel H. Kellogg was 
ordained, and dismissed to the "Presbytery of 
Lodiana, " India. 

The N. S. Presbytery cherished the principle of 
co-operation, and wrought through the voluntary 
Societies ; ever in readiness to do what, in their 
sober judgment should appear to be the will of the 
Master. 

Both diligently prosecuted their official duties 
and kept accurate and approved records. Those 
records testify to identity in motive, same- 
ness in thought, unity in purpose and great 
similarity in official action, in respect to all mat- 
ters, save those growing out of the embarrassing 
alliance of the Plan of Union. 

In those matters they were wide apart in 1840, 
but drew gradually nearer to each other, until in 
1870, they re-united and became THE PRESBYTERY 
OF Hudson, with the churches and ministers of 
Rockland County added to the roll. 

The plane of cleavage extends backward through 
the Synod of New York, through the General As- 
sembly of 1838, through the General Assembly of 
1837, through the general sentiment of the church 
at large, back, to the beginning of the century, 
where, in the plan of union is found the thin 
edge of the wedge, which, driven home, resulted 
in the great division. 

In that combination of the living organism of 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 87 

the Presbyterian body, with one radically different, 
the will was a reserved force with each, but 
subordinated to the good intention of the Union. I 
am, and will remain Presbyterian : I am, and will 
remain Congregational : but hoping ' ' to promote 
union and harmony " " we will unite. ' ' 

A yoke, that should couple an ox and a horse, 
might, in a certain sense, be considered the cause of 
extraordinary results, in crooked furrows, insuffi- 
cient tillage and unsatisfactory harvests. It is 
conceivable that, while the yoke would incline the 
ox to go with the horse, he might prefer to go 
another way and would shake off the yoke if he 
could. 

In a previous chapter, some instances in which 
the diversity of sentiment latent in the Plan of Union 
itself extended to doctrine and practice, have been 
specified : — not to exhaust the list, not to exclude 
or minify others not named, not to exhibit or dis- 
cuss them for their own sake, — but, as many as the 
purpose of this history required, and enough to 
show how the division of the Presbyterian body 
was a natural sequence of so incongruous a Union. 

To take any one of those instances of diversity 
of sentiment, as a starting point from which to 
logically reach division of the church as a con- 
clusion, would lead to endless debate, and produce 
confusion worse than that of the Ptolemaic theory 
of the universe, among the heavenly bodies. 

In a part of the Presbyterian church at large, 
mind and heart and conscience seem not to have 



1 88 HISTORY OF 

become subject, with the will, to the idea of the 
Plan of Union. If for a time they had been, heart 
and conscience constrained by the intellect, at 
length led the will to revolt and shake itself loose 
from the yoke, even at the sacrifice of a part of its 
own body. This was necessarily divisive ; for in 
the other part of the Presbyterian Church at large, 
the reason still acquiesced, the heart still cherished 
and the conscience still approved the Union. That 
part willingly retained the yoke. An equally divi- 
sive procedure. Half the ox decided to stay with 
the horse ! 

If exscinding the Synods in 1837, divided the 
church, no less did the organizing in the aisles and 
leaving the house in 1838, divide the church. But 
to regard either of these as the cause of the division 
to the exclusion of the other, or to regard both to- 
gether as causing it, or even to regard the ante- 
cedent difference of opinion such, is to stop short 
of the real origin. 

Back of both these divisive exercises of the 
Presbyterian will, was diversity of sentiment, and 
back of difference of opinion, was the Plan of Union 
by which that will was yoked to one of another 
species. 

The advice of the Father of his Country, to avoid 
entangling alliances, might well have been fol- 
lowed by that church, after the general principles 
of whose form of government that country's con- 
stitution itself is largely modeled. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. I 50, 

The comprehensive reason for the gradual ap- 
proach to each other and ultimate absorption of 
these two Presbyteries into one organic whole may 
thus be stated : 

Negatively, There was a gradual loosening and 
a final sundering of the bond of co-operation, (with 
voluntary societies under the Plan of Union). 

Positively, There was an increasing healthy action 
of the vital energy, inherent in the Presbyterian 
body. 

No act of legislation, violent or peaceful, on 
the part of Congregational Association or Pres- 
byterian Assembly, N. S. , enforced the continu- 
ance or terminated the existence of the Plan of 
Union. In the rapid populating of the country, 
and the ever-widening field for church enterprise, 
other considerations respecting the most efficient 
methods of meeting increased obligation, on the 
part of the church, to "preach the gospel to every 
creature," arose and became imperative. These 
neutralized whatever moral force remained in co- 
operation. The records show, that the conclusions 
reached by the N. S. General Assembly within a 
period of twenty-five years after the division, re- 
specting accountability to the Head of the church 
as an ecclsiastical body, were also reached and 
heartily approved by the Presbytery of Hudson be- 
longing to that Assembly. 

Only such of their proceedings are here pre- 
sented as will serve to make this plain. 

i. Education. On 22 Sept. 1846, it was re- 



190 HISTORY OF 

solved, "that a Standing Committee on Education 
be appointed."* 

On 20 April 1853, this Committee reported, that 
the General Assembly having ' ' recommended each 
Presbytery .... to take charge of the funds col- 
lected in its churches, and disburse them ; . . . . 
but .... not to interfere with any preference for 
co-operation with the ' Education Societies ; ' there 
fore Resolved, That the churches shall be requested 
to place their collections to aid young men in prepar- 
ing for the ministry, at the disposal of the Pres- 
bytery."! 

This indicates no ' ' preference for co-operation, ' ' 
but rather a return to the original method of 
" conducting educational concerns Presbyterially," 
quite similar to the action of the Presbytery in 
1828. 

On 19 Sept. i860, Rev. Thornton A. Mills laid 
the "Assembly's Revised Plan of Education," be- 
fore the Presbytery. In the next April, Presbytery 
approved the Plan,! an d thenceforward recom- 
mended its candidates to the " 'Assembly's Com- 
mittee,' for aid from the 'Assembly's Education 
Fund.' " 

By April 1861, therefore, the Educational work 
of the Presbytery of Hudson was conducted entirely 
upon a denominational basis ; the O. S., through 
the Board, and the N. S., through a Permanent 
Committee. 

* Min. of Presb., N. S., Vol. I, p. 267. 

t Ibid., pps. 529-533- 

J Min. of Presb., N. S., Vol. 11, p. 306. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. IQI 

2. Home Missions. It was soon discovered 
that the relation of our " small churches to the 
' American Home Missionary Society ' calls for 
careful supervision." 

On 16 April 1845, it was Resolved : "That there 
be a Committee of Missions, through which all 
applications to the ' A. H. M. Society ' for aid, shall 
be presented, "f 

On 19 Sept. i860, it was Resolved: "That, 
Whereas the policy of our branch of the Presby- 
terian Church respecting Domestic Missions, has, 
by force of circumstances been unsettled, and, 
Whereas the last General Assembly determined 
' not to restrict Presbyteries or Churches in choos- 
ing the agency through which they shall bestow 
their contributions for Domestic Mission work'| 
therefore, we recommend all our churches to take 
annual collections for Domestic Missions, — to pay 
them to the Standing Committee on Missions, — 
and that they be distributed as follows." The 
churches to be aided are then specified, and 
are no longer to be recommended for aid to the 
"A. H. M. Society."* 

On 18 Sept. 1 86 1, the churches were recom- 
mended to conform their practice in the cause of 
Missions, " to the plan adopted by the last General 
Assembly." And on 20 April 1864, applications 
for aid were made to the "General Assembly's Com- 



f Ibid., Vol. 1, p. 221. 

j Min. Gen. Assembly, N. S., 1859, P- 2 9 : 

* Min. of Presb., N. S., Vol. 11, p. 292. 



192 HISTORY OF 

mittee on Missions, "f Thus this branch or 
church work also came to be carried on by denomi- 
national agencies exclusively. 

Foreign Missions. In 1854, " The Permanent 
Committee on Foreign Missions " was established, 
by the General Assembly. 

In 1859, that " Permanent Committee " reported 
Overtures from Synods and Presbyteries, "praying 
for closer ecclesiastical relations between our 
Foreign Missionaries and the General Assembly, 
and ' for direct reports from them : ' 'for the forma- 
tion of Presbyteries on the Foreign field ; ' because 
our ministers, ' understanding that it is the busi- 
ness of the Prudential Committee of the A. B. C. 
F. M. , to arrange the ecclesiastical organization of 
missionaries and churches in Foreign lands,' de- 
cline to form Presbyteries : " expressing "the con- 
viction that the missionary spirit cannot be kept 
alive, unless the churches in some way are made 
to feel it is our work : ' ' reminding the Assembly 
that " after contributing millions of money we have 
but one solitary mission church in the entire foreign 
field" and recommending direct control of the ec- 
clesiastical relations of our ministers in foreign 
lands. 

Upon this report it was Resolved :*. " That this 
Assembly is encouraged by learning of thought and 
aim toward the perpetuation in foreign countries of 
our excellent Presbyterian polity; — that the time has 



f Ibid. Vol. 11, p. 417. 

* Min. of General Assembly, MSS, 1859, PP- 21 ~ 2 5- 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 93 

come, not only for consideration but action, — we 
will sacrifice everything to perpetuate co-operation 
with the 'American Board,' except the edification 
of that portion of the church over which the 
Holy Ghost hath made us overseers ; " — "mission- 
aries should be so disposed as to facilitate the forma- 
tion of Presbyteries on the foreign field ; — our 
missionaries should correspond with our Perma- 
nent Committee ; — such missionaries should be 
recommended to form themselves into Presbyte- 
ries, and our candidates for the foreign field should 
be advised to go where such Presbyteries are 
formed ; — and any new undertaking on a foreign 
field should be deferred in order to facilitate the 
formation of such Presbyteries." All this was 
emphasized in the Assembly of i860, after full and 
free conference with the ' ' American Board. ' ' f 

4. Church Polity. On 28 Nov. 1838, the 
Presbytery, met in Ridgebury, Resolved: "that 
in the judgment of the Presbytery there has never 
been any sufficient reason for the division of the 
Presbyterian Church. ' ' 

On 17 April 1839, they voted "no" upon the 
first overture from the Assembly proposing a con- 
stitutional change. (On the Limitation of appeals.) 

Oil 23 1846, they took the initiative, and over- 
tured the Assembly to restore the former mode of 

t Ibid., i860, pp: 256-25S. 
13 



194 HISTORY OF 

" annual " instead of " triennial " meetings of the 
Assembly. * 

On 21 April 1847, they Resolved: "That we 
consider the adjournment of the last General 
Assembly, — as wholly unconstitutional, and of a 
dangerous tendency." And "that we decline to 
do any act that may seem to recognize the consti- 
tutionality of that meeting. "f 

And when, after eleven years, the General 
Assembly "declared, that a majority of the whole 
number of Presbyteries had decided against each and 
all of the proposed changes of the constitution : 
the Book therefore remains as it was before the 
division of the church ;"T this Presbytery could 
point to its record for evidence that it was fully in 
sympathy with that declaration. 

5. Doctrine. On 28 Nov. 1838, Presbytery, 
N. S., Resolved: "That we profess our firm ad- 
herence to the Standards of the ' Presbyterian 
Church in these United States,' as containing the 
System of Doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures." 

"The confession of Faith proper, the larger 
and Shorter Catechisms, and the Directory for 
worship, remain, word for word and letter for 
letter, as they were adopted at the formation of 
the Assembly in i788."§ 

In Sept. 1855, the Presbytery, N. S., Resolved : 
That they regarded the obtaining of charters for 



* Min. of Presb., N. S., Vol. 1, p. 256. 
f Ibid., p. 287. 

j Min. Gen. Assembly, N. S., pp. 317-3] 
\ Moore's Digest, p. 602. Note. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 1 95 

the publication House, for the Church Brection 
Fund, and also for Church Extension, as not an- 
tagonistic to the spirit of co-operation, but as ad- 
ditional means for advancing the Kingdom of 
Christ, arising out of the growth of the church. 
In April 1859, they declared* that they were 
" giving careful attention to the relation subsisting 
between the Voluntary Societies, the Assembly's 
Committees and the Churches." In 17 Sept. of 
the same year, Pastors and Sessions were requested 
to examine carefully the action of the Assembly in 
respect to these leading agencies of benevolent 
work, and use great wisdom in bringing them be- 
fore their churches. 

In Sept. 1861, the churches were urged to take 
annual collections for "Home Missions," for 
"Foreign Missions," for "Education," and for 
"Publication," as they are conducted by the 
assembly. And in April 1862, the time was 
"judged to be at hand when our churches without 
an exception, will contribute to the objects recom- 
mended by our higher judicatories. "f 

These extracts, references and sentiments ex- 
pressed with the utmost delicacy and fidelity, 
testify that the Presbytery of Hudson, N. S., in 
full sympathy with their Assembly, was conduct- 
ing its benevolent operations through the Assem- 
bly's Permanent Committees; avowing no " dis- 
esteem of the spirit of co-operation with the 



* Min. of Presb., N. S., Vol. 11, p. 230. 
f Ibid., p. 313. 



196 HISTORY OF 

Voluntary Societies," but, ''impelled by the voice 
of the Master heard in the development of the age 
and of the country," J by the observation of the 
absolute stagnation of our work in the Foreign 
field during twenty years, and by the conviction 
that these Permanent Committees are so " many 
additional means of advancing Christ's kingdom, 
arising out of the growth of the church." 

The experience, the reasoning and the language 
used, are almost identical with those which led to 
the formal dissolution of the Plan of Union in 
1837, and to the conducting of the work of the 
church by the other branch, through agencies 
under its control and accountable to it. 

After 1 86 1, no reference appears on the records 
to co-operation. If therefore this bond has be- 
come sundered, the positive reason for the re-union 
may be considered. Aside from or in distinction 
from the will of the great Head of the church, it 
may be 'assumed that the Inherent Vitality of 
THE Presbyterian body, now asserted itself with- 
out further hindrance, and exerted a wholesome, 
healing influence. Its Polity scriptural, its Sys- 
tem of Doctrine almost Scripture itself, and its 
Principles of Action, fidelity to Scripture, alle- 
giance to Christ and devotion to the truth and to 
the church, it may be relied upon to keep the 
mind from being "tossed to and fro, and carried 
about by every wind of doctrine," to prompt to 



% Ibid., p. 286. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 197 

"speaking the truth in love," and to compact the 
fitly joined body "by that which every joint sup- 
plieth." 

Under this influence, there arose a feeling akin 
to nostalgia, a yearning for fellowship with absent 
kindred ; — there grew a conviction that the needs 
of our land and of the world, more than ever 
require that each (denomination) ' ' should watch 
over against his own house ;' ' * — there was awak- 
ened an uneasiness of conscience lest the law of 
of christian love which " thinketh no evil," may 
have been violated, in judging a brother to hold 
an interpretation of doctrine which he would dis- 
avow, and treating him accordingly ; — there dawn- 
ed a clearer perception that, when all conscien- 
tiously avow their acceptance of the Standards, 
each, claiming exemption from judgment by 
"another man's conscience," should be careful 
not to disfellowship a brother for entertaining dif- 
ferent views of truth, or for holding nicer shades of 
interpretation, because of different mental capacity, 
temperament, education, environment, or personal 
religious experience. 

All these we may conceive to have, consciously 
or unconsciously, been revived with the reviving 
sense of denominational life and responsibility, and 
PROMPTED THE SUCCESSIVE STEPS TO THE RE- 
UNION. 



Neli. vii 



CHAPTER XIV. 

OFFICIAL STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF RE-UNION ; 
BY THE ASSEMBLIES ; BY THE SYNOD ; BY THE 
PRESBYTERIES. — ROLE OF THE PRESBYTERY OF 
HUDSON IN THE PERIOD OF RE-UNION. 

The simultaneous meeting of both the Assem- 
blies in the city of St. L,ouis in 1866, afforded 
happy occasion for initiatory steps toward re-union. 
Six Presbyteries of the O. S. Assembly, overtured 
that body to ' ' take measures to secure at an early 
day the organic union of the two. ' ' That Assem- 
bly adopted the following: "Resolved, 1. That 
this Assembly expresses its fraternal affection for the 
other branch of the Presbyterian Church, and its 
earnest desire for re-union at the earliest time con- 
sistent with agreement in doctrine, order, and 
polity, .... Resolved, 2. That it be recom- 
mended to all . . . . to cherish fraternal feelings, 

.... and to avoid all needless controversies. 

.... Resolved, 3. That a committee be ap- 
pointed, provided that a similar committee shall be 
appointed by the other Assembly, for the purpose 
of conferring in regard to the desirableness and 
practicability of re-union, .... and report to 
the next General Assembly.* 



Min. O. S. Gen. Assembly, 1866, p. 44. 
(198) 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. ■ 1 99 

This action was met with cordial approval and a 
prompt concert of action from the other As- 
sembly. A joint committee drew up a Plan 
of Re-union, which ws sent clown to the Presby- 
teries. On 19 Sept. following, the Presbytery of 
Hudson, O. S. , referred the ' ' Plan " to a com- 
mittee, which reported "That while we believe in 
the oneness of the visible Kingdom of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, and that its members are ' bound to 
maintain a holy fellowship,' yet that the time 
does not seem to have yet arrived, when the Plan 
of Union proposed by the Joint Committee can be 
adopted. " The latter part of this report was re- 
committed, with instructions to reconsider the 
same and report at the next Stated Meeting. In 
the meantime the Plan was modified by the Joint 
Committee, and no further action was called for. 

The Presbytery of Hudson, N. S., " heartily ap- 
proved the action of the General Assembly at St. 
Louis, and fully sympathized with the spirit which 
led to it, but there is on their minutes no reference 
to the "Plan of Union" proposed by the Joint 
Committee, as such. 

On 18 Sept. 1867, they expressed great gratifica- 
tion with the spirit, the progress and the results 
already attained. 

The labors of the Joint Committee resulted in 
adoption by both Assemblies of a satisfactory 
' ' Plan of Re-union, ' ' and each Assembly sent the 
following question down to the Presbyteries for a 



200 HISTORY OF 

categorical answer, to be given on or before the 
15th Oct. 1869. 

' ' Do you approve of the re-union of the two 
bodies now claiming the name and rights of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States of 
America, on the following basis, viz. : ' ' The re- 
union shall be effected on the doctrinal and eccle- 
siastical basis of our common Standards ; the Scrip- 
tures of the Old and New Testament shall be 
acknowledged to be the inspired word of God, and 
the only, infallible rule of faith and practice ; the 
Confession of Faith shall continue to be sincerely 
received and adopted as containing the system of 
doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures ; and the 
Government and Discipline of the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States shall be approved as 
containing the principles and rules of our polity ? " 

On the 15 Sept. 1869, tne °- S. Presbytery 
recorded the following minute, viz. : ' "The ques- 
tion sent down by the General Assembly on the 
subject of Re-union with the other branch of 
the Presbyterian Church was answered in the Neg- 
ative. Noes, 19. Ayes, 12." 

The Presbytery of Hudson, N. S., on the 24th, 
of the same month, answered by a "unanimous 
vote in the affirmative, taken by rising and with- 
out debate." Their Commissioners were instructed 
so to vote, at the adjourned meeting of the Assem- 
bly, to be held in Pittsburgh on the 10th of Nov., 
next. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 201 

On the ioth of Nov. 1869, the two Assemblies 
met, in different churches, in the city of Pitts- 
burgh. Each found itself standing squarely upon 
a platform, whose four planks, supposed to have been 
warped by exposure to the use of fourteen decades, 
now ran level and stronger than when first laid. 
Upon this platform the Assemblies flowed together 
literally, — became one body, — and "praised God 
from whom all blessings flow," while the Modera- 
tors stood with clasped hands in the sight of all 
the people. 

There was unity in the acceptance of the Con- 
stitution of the Chuch, there was unity in the 
animating principle of union with and allegiance 
to Christ as the Head of the Church, and there 
was unity in respect to carrying on the work of 
the church through Presbyterian agencies. 

On 18 April 1870, the Presbytery of Hudson 
convened at Washingtonville, sent two of their 
number to ' ' convey their fraternal salutations to the 
Presbytery of Hudson, convened at Scotchtown, 
and to invite arrangements for a joint meeting at an 
early day, of the members of the two Presby- 
teries, to confer respecting the reconstruction of 
the two bodies. ' ' * 

On the same day the Presbytery of Hudson, 
at Scotchtown, Resolved: "That the reading 
of the minutes be postponed in order to hear 
the Rev. Dr. Seward and Mr. Jirah I. Foot, a com- 



* Min. of Presb., N. S., Vol. in, p. 101. 



202 HISTORY OF 

mission from the sister Presbytery of Hudson." 
After the reception of their message it was Re- 
solved : "That we, the members of this Presby- 
tery cordially agree to meet the members of our 
sister Presbytery of Hudson, in convention at the 
First Church in Middletown on the first Tuesday 
of May next at n o'clock a. M."f 

On 3 May, the proposed Convention was held, 
according to the arrangement. 

On 3 June 1870, the General Assembly passed 
the Enabling Act, constituting the synod of new 
york, ' ' to consist of the Presbyteries and parts of 
Presbyteries included within the counties of New 
York, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, 
Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan, in the State of New 
York, and within New England ; to meet on the 
21 June 1870, at 11 a. m., in the First Presbyte- 
rian Church of New York, and to be opened with 
a sermon by the Rev. F. R. Masters, D. D. , or, in 
his absence, by the Rev. W. W. Newell, D.D., and 
the Synod of New York is hereby declared to be 
the legal successor of the Synod of New York, 
and of the Synod of New York and New 
Jersey, and as such entitled to the possession 
and enjoyment of all the rights and franchises, 
and liable to the performance of all the duties, of 
those Synods."* 

On 21 June 1870, the Synod met and recon- 
structed the Presbytery of Hudson as follows : 

f Min. of Presb., O. S., Vol. vm, p. 577. 
* Min. of General Assembly, 1S70, p. 91. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 203 

"It is ordered by the Synod of New York : 
That all the churches in the counties of Rockland, 
Sullivan and Orange, with the exception of the 
towns of Newburgh, Cornwall and New Windsor, 
with their pastors, and all ministers resident or in 
active work within the same limits, be the PRES- 
BYTERY OF Hudson, to meet in the First Presby- 
terian Church of Middletown on the second Tues- 
day of Sept. next, at 2 o'clock, p. m., . . . . and 
the Presbytery of Hudson is hereby declared to be 
the legal successor of the Presbytery of Hudson, O. 
S., and of the Presbytery of Hudson, N. S., and 
as such entitled to the possession and enjoyment of 
all the rights and franchises, and liable to the per- 
formance of all the duties of the said Presby- 
teries. ' ' 

On the 13 Sept. 1870, the reconstituted Presbytery 
of Hudson met in the First Church of Middletown, 
pursuant to the above order, and was opened with 
a sermon by Rev. Richard Bentley, from Isaiah 
lx : 13, "I will make the place at my feet 
glorious. ' ' 

The roll of Ministers and of Churches is as 
follows : 

ministers. Ord. churches. Mem. 

Phinehas Robinson, 1816, 

William R. Timlow, *H.R. 1S19, 

"William D. Snodgrass, fP. 1821, Goshen, 357. 

Hosea Ball, H.R. 1821, 

Charles D. Rosenthal, P. 1822, Clarkstown,( German.) 48. 

Holloway W. Hunt, jS.S. 1824, Centreville, 87. 

George Pierson, P. 1829, Florida, First, 158. 



204 


HISTORY OF 




MINISTERS. 


Ord. CHURCHES. 


Mem. 


Oscar Harris, 


2W.C. 1833, 




Obadiah M. Johnson, 


P. 1835, Denton, 


102. 


Ralph Bull, 


W.C. 1836, 




Oris Fraser, 


W.C. 1839, 




Horace Fraser, 


W.C. 1840, 




John N. Boyd, 


P, 1840, Circleville, 


72. 


Henry F. Wadsworth, 


P. 1843, Unionville, 


94 


Thomas Mack, 


P. 1843, Hempstead, 


59- 


Richard Bentley, 


P. 1844, Montgomery, 


242. 


Slator C. Hepburn, 


P. 1845, Hamptonburgh, 


193 


Augustus Seward, 


P. 1847, Middletown, First, 


439 


Amasa S. Freeman, 


P. 1847, Haverstraw, Central, 


202 


William A. Westcott, 


P. 1847, Bloomingburgh, 


52 


Daniel N. Freeland, 


P. 1848, Monroe, 


72 


Thomas S. Bradner, 


W.C. 1849, 




Luther Ljttell, 


P. 1850, Mount Hope, 


158 


Thomas J. Evans, 


P. 1 85 1, Greeubush, 


100 


David Beattie, 


P. 1852, Scotchtown, 


299 


Alfred P. Botsford, 


P. 1853, Portjervis, 


259 


James J. McMahon, 


P. 1853, Stony Point, 


4i 




S.S. Haverstraw, First, 


151 


J. Napier Husted, 


P. 1854, Liberty, 


104 


Archibald S. Stewart, 


P. 1855, Waldberg, 


43 


James M. Dickson, 


P. 1857, Goodwill 


157 


Henry A. Harlow, 


P. 1858, Florida, Second, 


93 


Floyd A. Crane, 


S.S. 1859, Callicoon, 


36 


James Norris, 


S.S. 1859, Rockland, First, 


15 


Duncan C. Niven, 


P. 1859, Westtown, 


146 


Goodloe B. Bell, 


S.S. 1849, Ramapo, 


48 


Thomas Nichols, 


P. 1863, Chester, 


200 


Arthur Harlow, 


P. 1863, Washingtonville, 2nd, 88 


Charles Beattie, 


P. 1863, Middletown, 2nd, 


292 


Daniel 0. Timlow, 


P. 1863, Amity, 


92 


Theron Brittain, 


S.S. 1865, Cochecton, 


60 




S.S. Damascus, 


12 


Francis L. Patton, 


P. 1865, Nyack, 


75 


Benjamin G. Benedict, 


W.C. 1866, 




Francis W. Farries, 


P. 1868, Otisville, 


76 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 



205 



MINISTERS. 
John V. Griswold, 
Elijah B. Wells, 
James R. Campbell, 
•John Turner, 



* Honorably retired, 
charge. 



Ord. churches. Mem. 

P. 1868, Washingtonville, 1st, 85. 
P. 1869, White Lake, 130. 

P. 1869, Ridgebury, 167. 

P. 1870, Hopewell, 160. 

Vacant, Jeffersonville, (German) 76. 

Monticello, 1S0. 

Palisades, 34. 

Mil ford, 70. 

t Pastor. % Stated Supply. \ Without 



V. PERIOD OF RE-UNION. 

1870— 1888. 



CHAPTER XV. 

SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES, CONTINUED. 

i. AMITY. — After the decease of Rev. Daniel 
O. Timlow, 18 Jan. 1885, the pulpit was supplied 
by such ministers as the Session could obtain, un- 
til, on 28 July following, the Rev. Thomas Fitz- 
gerald, the present pastor, was installed. 

2.— BEOOMINGBURGH.— On 19 Sept. 1871, 
Rev. William A. Westcott was released. He was 
the last, to sustain the relation of pastor to this 
church. On 17 Sept. 1872, the only remaining 
elder, applied to the Presbytery for a letter of dis- 
mission. A committee was appointed to give let- 
ters to all the members who might apply for them, 
and on the 18 April 1877, the name of the church 
was dropped from the roll. By provision of the 
deed, the title to the property reverted to the heirs 
of the original donor. 

3. CAIvLICOON— Was supplied by Presbytery, 
until in 1874, Mr. George E. Sanderson was 
granted leave to supply them, under the supervi- 
sion of the Committee on Missions. Mr. Sander- 
(206) 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 207 

son's credentials proving unsatisfactory, his appli- 
cation to be received was denied, and his labors at 
Callicoon ceased in 1876. The Rev. James Norris 
preached once a month for this congregation for a 
number of years, but their numerical and financial 
strength has steadily diminished. In 1885, arrange- 
ments were made for preaching every other week, 
by Rev. George T. Galbraith, S. S., at Liberty. 
This ended in Nov. 1887, and there has been no 
service held in the church since. 

4. CENTREVILLE.— On 17 April 1871, Rev. 
Holloway W. Hunt, S. S. , at Centreville, was dis- 
missed to the " Presbytery of Elizabethtown," 
and supplies were furnished by Presbytery until 19 
Sept., when Rev. William A. Westcott was called 
and on 8 Oct., installed. Mr. Westcott died in the 
pastoral office at Centreville, on 23 Feb. 1876. 

In the summer of 1877, Rev. Charles W. Cooper 
was called. He was received from the " Presby- 
tery of North River" on 18 Sept., of that year, 
and remained pastor-elect until his death, which 
occurred on 16 May 1886. The Session had leave 
to supply their own pulpit, until in the fall of 1887, 
Rev. Thomas Nelson, of the "Presbytery of 
Newton,,' took charge. In the summer of 1887, 
their meeting house was remodeled and greatly 
improved, at an expense of about $600. 

4. CIRCLEVILLE.— On 27 Jan. 1871, Rev. 
Charles H. Park was called. On 17 April he was 
received from the " Presbytery of Northumber- 
land." He served, as pastor elect, until the 16th 



208 HISTORY OF 

April 1872, when he returned the call. Rev. Floyd 
A. Crane acted as Stated Supply, until 15 May 
1873, when Rev. Charles H. Park was again called 
and installed. He remains to this day. A most 
interesting work of grace in the latter part of 1887, 
resulted in an accession of over thirty to the mem- 
bership. 

5. CHESTER. —On 16 April 1872, Rev. 
Theodore A. Leggett was received from the " Pres- 
bytery of New York," and on 2 May, installed. 
On 29 Nov. 1 881, he was released and dismissed 
to the "Presbytery of Brooklyn." On 27 June 
1882, Mr. T. Cumming Beattie, the present pastor, 
a licentiate of the ' ' Presbytery of New Brunswick, ' ' 
was received, ordained and installed. 

6. CLARKSTOWN, German.— In 1859, the 
German population of Rockland Co. effected an 
organization and erected a house of worship. On 
1 Dec, Rev. J. Wahrenberger became their pastor 
and remained until 1 Dec. 1865, when he removed 
to Paterson, N. J. Rev. Bartolomio Krusi was 
pastor from May 1866, until Nov. 1867. On 2 
Dec. 1867, Rev. Carl D. Rosenthal was installed. 
He died on 2 May 1874, in the seventy-eighth year 
of his age. On 22 Sept. 1874, Mr. George Eoock 
was received as a licentiate of the " Presbytery of 
Newark," and on the 29th he was ordained and 
installed. On 17 Sept. 1878, he was released and 
on the 16 Oct., dismissed to the "Presbytery of 
Morris and Orange." On 24 June 1879, Rev. John 
U. Tschudi was received from the ' ' Presbytery of 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 200. 

Memphis," and installed. On 16 Sept. 1884, the 
congregation requested that the pastoral relation of 
Mr. Tschudi to them might be dissolved. Presby- 
tery after hearing all parties released Mr. Tschudi, 
on 1 Jan. 1885. Mr. Tschudi departed this life at 
Warrensville, N. J., on 17 May 1887. On 15 Mar. 

1885, Rev. Adolph Schabehorn, the present pastor, 
began to labor in that congregation. On 20 April 

1886, he was received, and on 5 May, installed. 

It is believed that in this congregation the Ger- 
man will before many, years be superseded by the 
English tongue. 

7. COCHECTON. 8. DAMASCUS.— On 
26 July 1875, the pastoral relation of Rev. Theron 
Brittain to these united churches was dissolved. 
The pulpit was supplied by Rev. Brown H. Emer- 
son until the next meeting of Presbytery. On 1 
May 1876, Rev. George E. Northrup was ap- 
pointed Stated I Supply for one year. On 20 Mar. 
1877, charges affecting the moral character of Mr. 
Northrup were " dismissed for the reason that the 
prosecutor, not being a member of the Presbyte- 
rian Church, was beyond the reach of the censure, 
which in the event of the charges being dis- 
proved, the Book^of Discipline requires Presbytery 
to pronounce and inflict." On 17 April following, 
the Session of the Cochecton Church requested 
that the charges against Mr. Northrup might be 
investigated. The request was put in the hands 
of the committee on the affairs of the Waldberg 
14 



2IO HISTORY OF 

Church, for advice as to proper course to be pur- 
sued. After an exhaustive examination and a 
hearing of all parties, the recommendation of the 
committee that, "action be deferred until the set- 
tlement of a suit pending in the civil court," was 
adopted. 

Supplies were appointed by Presbytery, once a 
month, until, on 19 April 1881, Rev. Samuel Mur- 
doch was received from the "Presbytery of Was- 
ington City," and on 17 May following, installed. 
This relation continued until 1 May 1887, 
when he was released, and on 26 Oct., dismissed 
to the " Presbytery of Geneva." The Damascus 
Church, gradually reduced in membership by 
deaths and removals, was, on 22 Sept. ,1885, 
dropped from the roll, and its remaining members 
were transferred to the church of Cochecton. 

In the summer of 1884, the meeting house in 
Cochecton was greatly improved and beautified at 
considerable expense. In Jan. 1887, a disastrous 
flood, laying the entire village nnder its icy 
waters, rose above the cushioned seats within, 
while the drifting ice broke and defaced the stones 
and monuments in the burial ground around it. 
The damage however has been repaired, and that 
people are anxiously praying that a pastor may be 
provided for them. 

9. DENTON.— On 22 Oct. 1873, the pastoral 
relation of Rev. Obadiah M. Johnson was dis- 
solved, having continued since the organization of 
the church, a period of thirty-four years. He 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 211 

died at Monsey, Rockland County, on 7 Jan. 1881, 
in the seventy-fifth year of age. The church has 
had leave to supply its own pulpit since the death of 
Mr. Johnson. For several years Rev. George H. 
Hick, of "New York and Brooklyn Congrega- 
tional Association," served them. From 1879, 
until 20 Mar. 1883, Rev. David McLeod was 
Stated Supply. On the latter date he was dis- 
missed to the " Presbytery of Genesee Valley." 
On 1.6 Sept. 1884, a special committee was ap- 
pointed, which reported on 21 Aprit 1885, that 
they had secured supplies for seventeen Sabbaths, 
and that Rev. George H. Morrill had just been en- 
gaged for one year. Since the termination of Mr. 
Morrill's engagement, the pulpit has been filled by 
such supplies as could be obtained. This church 
numbers fifty members, with a Sunday School of 
about seventy scholars. 

11. FLORIDA. 12. FLORIDA, Second.— On 
15 May 1878, Rev. George Pierson was released 
from a pastorate of thirty-nine years, and retired 
on a life annuity of $500. He died 2 Feb. 1880. 

On 17 April 1872, Rev. Henry A. Harlow was 
released from the Second Church. On 22 April 
1873, Rev. Elijah L. Burnet was received from the 
"Presbytery of Chicago," and on 8 May installed. 
On 21 Oct. 1874, he was released, and on 17 Oct. 
1877, dismissed to the " Presbytery of New York." 
On 15 June 1875, Mr. David McLeod, a licentiate 
of the "Presbytery of New Brunswick," was re- 
ceived, ordained and installed. On 15 May 1878, 



2 12 HISTORY OF 

he was released, receiving the consideration of the 
sum of $400. 

On that date, the organic union of these two 
churches was consummated. Both pastors resigned, 
botli sessions resigned, the combined congregations 
under a Commission of Presbytery, elected a new 
bench of elders, when ' ' the union was declared 
complete, carrying with it the roll of the members 
of each church, and the consent of the members 
of each congregation. ' ' * 

On 22 April 1879, Rev. Asahel L. Clark was 
received from the " Presbytery of Blizabeth." 

A call from the church of Florida upon Mr. 
Clark was presented in Presbytery, accompanied 
with a statement that a minority of twenty-one had 
refused to make the call unanimous, and "like- 
wise a remonstrance against the installation of Mr. 
Clark, signed by fifty-four persons having a right 
to vote on the call." "After a protracted discus- 
sion it was Resolved, That the call be placed in 
the hands of Mr. Clark." He accepted the call 
and was installed on the 29 April 1879. On 16 
Sept. following, "sundry members of the church 
of Florida represented their grievances to Presby- 
tery and expressed their desire to be organized as a 
second Presbyterian church, "f The session was 
directed to give letters of dismission to all who 
should apply for them ; to which Rev. Mr. Pierson, 
for himself and others gave notice of dissent. The 



" :; " Min. of Presb., Vol. ix, p. 456. 

f Min. of Pres., Vol. ix, pp. 515-517. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 213 

dissent was accepted and entered on the record. 
On the 30 Sept. 1879, sixty persons presented such 
letters to a commission of Presbytery, and were 
duly " organized as a church, to be known as the 
' Second Presbyterian Church of Florida, ' under the 
care of the Presbytery of Hudson, "f On 20 April 
1880, the Trustees of this Second Church asked 
for a " commission to investigate the grounds on 
which the First Church refuse to surrender the 
property, which in equity belongs to the Second 
Church."! The commission was appointed. The 
commission reported 18 April 1882, "that in their 
opinion, the Second Presbyterian Church has 
moral rights in the property ' carried into the 
union by the former Second Presbyterian Church, 
estimated to be worth $7,250, for which they re- 
ceived no pecuniary consideration,' which the 
Presbyterian Church in the exercise of a Christian 
spirit, ought to recognize. "§ To this report, " the 
officers of the First Church Florida," presented a 
protest, which is entered on the record, in which 
they say "inasmuch as the Board of Tiustees are 
not answerable to the Presbytery, no result of in- 
vestigation by this committee can compel or even 
so much as authorize any action by that Board, 
who are answerable to the civil courts alone. 
They stand ready, as we are advised, to make full 



t Ibid., p. 530. 
t Ibid., p. 539. 
\ Ibid. Vol. x, p. 72. 



214 HISTORY OF 

answer and proof to those courts if occasion shall 
demand."* 

On 10 June 1883, Mr. Clark was released, and on 
22 Sept. 1885, he was dismissed to the " Hartford 
Central Association." On 17 Oct. 1883, Rev. 
Robert E. Campbell was received from the ' ' Pres- 
bytery of Paducah," and on 7 Oct. 1884, he was 
installed in the First Church, Florida. On 25 
Dec. 1887, he announced his intention of enter- 
ing the ministry of the Episcopal Church, and on 
10 Jan. 1888, he was released. His name was 
dropped from the roll. 

On 20 Sept. 1880, Rev. Stephen D. Noyes was 
received from the "Presbytery of Baltimore," and 
on 5 Oct. , he was installed, in the Second Church. 
On 20 Mar. 1883, he was released and dismissed to 
the ' ' Classis of Kingston. ' ' The church then had 
leave to supply their own pulpit. On 14 June 
1 88 1, Rev. Henry E. Decker was received from 
the " Classis of Illinois," and in Dec. 1883, became 
Stated Supply. He continued his labors until 19 
April 1887, when he was dismissed to the "Pres- 
bytery of Utica." The death, of the principal 
supporters of this organization, and their heavy 
financial obligations, made it appear wise to dis- 
band. On 31 May 1887, Rev. Eugene L. Mapes 
was authorized to issue letters of dismission to the 



Ibid., p. 84, 85 and 86. (The great length of these papers for- 
bids their quotation in full. The last paper, marked *, is 
signed by four elders and six trustees. H. A. H.) 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 215 

remaining members, and the name of the Second 
Church of Florida was dropped from the roll. 

13. GOODWILL.— In the year 1 871, the church 
edifice was enlarged and remodeled at a cost of 
nearly nine thousand dollars, and the new house, 
beautifully frescoed and furnished, was rededicated 
on 20 July. 

On 16 Sept. 1879, the Presbytery united with 
the congregation in the celebration of their one 
hundred and fiftieth anniversary. After the exer- 
cises, which were of an exceedingly interesting 
nature, it was Resolved, ' ' That we as a Presbytery 
extend our hearty congratulations to this congre- 
gation and to their pastor, on the peculiarly pleas- 
ant and auspicious occasion of the one hundred and 
fiftieth anniversary of the organization of their 
church, upon the spot where we are convened." 

On 17 April 1883, Rev. James M. Dickson was 
released and dismissed to the "Reformed Classis 
of New York." On 11 Mar. 1884, Rev. David F. 
Bonner, the present pastor, was received from the 
" U. P. Presbytery of Caledonia," and on 10 April 
he was installed. 

14. GOSHEN.— On 22 Nov. 187 1, the present 
massive and beautiful church edifice was dedicated. 
Its dimensions are one hundred and five by 
sixty-two feet, and the chapel forty-six by thirty 
feet. Its steeple of stone, rises one hundred 
and eighty-six feet from the ground. It will seat 
one thousand people, and cost with all its furnish- 
ings $154,328.50. 



2l6 HISTORY OF 

On 17 Oct. 1883, Rev. Lee W. Beattie was re- 
ceived from the "Presbytery of North River," 
and became assistant to Rev. Dr. Snodgrass. He 
remained until 22 Sept. 1885, when he was dis- 
missed to the " Presbytery of Troy." On 12 Nov. 
1885, Dr. Snodgrass requested the Presbytery to 
dissolve his pastoral relation, naming the increased 
demands upon his decreasing energies as the reason. 
The congregation concurred in the request by con- 
stituting him "Pastor Emeritus, with a salary of 
$800, and the free use of the parsonage during the 
remainder of his natural life." The sentiment and 
feeling of the Presbytery were expressed in the 
following Resolution: "Whilst assenting to the 
request of Rev. William D. Snodgrass, that his 
pastoral relation to the church of Goshen be dis- 
solved, Presbytery desires to place on record its 
sorrow that his advanced years should render such 
a step necessary, and also its apjDreciatiou of the 
noble spirit which the church has manifested in 
making such liberal provision for the comfort of 
their venerable pastor in his declining days. ' ' 

On 5 Feb. 1886, Rev. Robert B. Clark, the 
present pastor, was received from the " Presbytery 
of Chicago," and installed. 

Dr. Snodgrass continued to preach occasionally, 
and filled the pulpit only a few Sabbaths before his 
decease, which occurred on 28 May 1886. Had he 
lived till the 30th of June, he would have filled 
out ninety years of earthly life. He died an old 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 21 J 

man, and full of years, full of experiences, and full 
of graces. 

The year 1886, was further made memorable in 
the history of this church by the erection of a 
beautiful parsonage, upon the site of the old one. 

15. GREENBUSH.*— The twenty-one years 
pastorate of Rev. Jared Dewing ended on 8 Oct. 
1855. In April 1841, he was released from charge 
of Nyack church, and gave all his time to Green- 
bush. On 12 Nov. 1855, Rev. Thomas J. Evans 
became Stated Supply, on 17 June following, he 
was installed, and for twenty-two years continued 
to minister to them. The re-union brought the 
name of this church back to the roll of this Pres- 
bytery, together with all those in Rockland 
County. The pastoral relation of Mr. Evans 
ceased on i Aug. 1877, an( ^ on J 6 April 1878, he 
was dismissed to the " Presbytery of Brooklyn. " 
Rev. Henry E. Decker immediately followed as 
Stated Supply, and so continued until 11 Nov. 
1883. On the night of 24 Oct. 1882, the church 
and parsonage were burned to the ground, 
the inmates of the house losing all their effects 
and barely escaping with their lives. A second 
time this church edifice arose from the ashes, re- 
modeled and beautified for the public worship of 
the Triune God, to whom it was dedicated on 27 
Nov. 1883. This happy result was largely due to the 
efforts of Mr. Decker. On 17 April 1883, Presby- 



Eocal History by S. B. Huested, Esq. 



2l8 HISTORY OF 

tery resolved, " That the request of the church of 
Greeubush for aid in rebuilding their church edi- 
fice, be endorsed by the Presbytery, and that our 
churches be recommended to aid them by collec- 
tions." On 22 April 1884, " a paper from Green- 
bush, gratefully acknowledging donations of money 
from churches and individuals, .... was read, 
accepted and placed on file." In 1886, the par- 
sonage was rebuilt in modern style, and this hand- 
some church property, valued at $7,000, has upon 
it but $800 indebtedness. 

After Mr. Decker's removal to Florida, Mr. 
Charles H. Lester preached at Greenbush for one 
year from 2 Dec. 1883. An arrangement was 
then made with Rev. Charles S. Hageman, D.D., 
of the ' ' Classis of Poughkeepsie, ' ' to supply 
them, until, on 24 June 1887, Frederick J. Stan- 
ley, of the ' ' Presbytery of New York, ' ' was 
called, and on 26 Oct. following, he was received 
and installed. This church has enjoyed three 
special revivals of religion, in the years 1821, 
1858 and 1876. 

16. HAMPTONBURGH.— History and tradi- 
tion unite in testifying to the ability and godly 
character of the pastors of this church from the 
beginning. For one hundred and twenty years its 
pulpit has given out no uncertain sound. A Sun- 
day School has been maintained without serious 
interruption since 1828. Its contributions to the 
benevolent work of the church have been 
perennial, and its Woman's Missionary Society, 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 2IO. 

organized in Mar. 1880, stands among the first in 
the Presbytery for regularity in meeting and 
liberality in giving. The end and aim of its life 
seems ever to have been to serve and glorify 
Christ. There are one hundred and twenty-six 
communicants. 

17. HAVERSTRAW, First. *— There have 
been three seasons of special religions interest in 
this church during 'this period. In 1872, fifty-nine 
were received on their confession of Christ. In 
1876, thirty-three more were added ; and in 1887, 
more than a score publicly professed their allegi- 
ance to Him. In the forty-eight years since the 
reorganization of this church, there have been as 
many as five hundred additions to its membership, 
and its contributions in various ways to the cause 
of Christ have not been less than $75,000. There 
are one hundred and thirty-five communicants. 

18. HAVERSTRAW, Central.— This is one 
of the churches brought into this Presbytery by 
the re-union. It was organized by a committee of 
the "Fourth Presbytery of New York," on 22 
April 1846, with nine members, and two elders. 
On the last Sabbath in June, Mr. Amasa S. Free- 
man, just graduated from Union Theological Sem- 
inary, took charge of the infant church and remains 
with it to this day. On 21 Aug., the corner-stone 
of a meeting house was laid, and upon it, two 
months later, a tornado laid the ruins of the house 



* Local History, by Rev. J. J. McMahon. 



220 HISTORY OF 

itself. The horse-shed, inclosed for a carpenters' 
shop, was made to do service on the first day of the 
week as a sanctuary, until, on 7 Feb. 1847, the 
basement could be.used. The completed structure 
was, on the third Sabbath of the next September, 
dedicated to the service of the Triune God. On 14 
April 1847, Mr. Freeman was ordained " sine 
titulo" and on 25 April 1849, he was installed. In 
i860, the meeting house, which could no longer 
accommodate the growing congregation, was en- 
larged and greatly improved, and on 29 Aug., it 
was reopened. In June 1871, the pastor preached 
and published an historical discourse entitled "Our 
Silver Wedding. " In 1877 he received the title 
of l 'D.D." The fortieth anniversary of his pas- 
torate was also celebrated, with appropriate cere- 
monies ; none more appropriate than the presenta- 
tion of a well filled purse. Dr. Freeman retains 
the office of superintendent of his sunday-school, 
which he has held during a large part of his min- 
istry. He has had the happiness of welcoming to 
the communion of the church, seven hundred and 
sixty-six persons, a large portion of them on con- 
fession of their faith in Christ. There are now 
two hundred and seventy-five communicants. * 

19. HEMPSTEAD. —This church was restored 
to the roll of this Presbytery by the re-union, and 
with it comes back also the familiar name and 
venerable form of Rev. Thomas Mack, as its pas- 
tor. There are fifty-one members. 
* Local History, by Rev. Amasa S. Freeman, D.D. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 221 

20. HOPEWELL.— On 3 May 1870, Mr. John 
Turner was received as a licentiate from the 
"Presbytery of New York," and on the 26th he 
was ordained and installed. His labors have been 
owned of God, and the membership of one hundred 
and sixty, in 1870, has not only held good against 
a steady depletion by deaths and dismissals, but 
has increased to one hundred and seventy-one. 
Mr. Turner is still pastor of this strong and united 
country church. 

21. JEFFERSONVILLE, German.— On 19 
Oct. 1870, Rev. Adolph Rahn was received from 
the ' ' Presbytery of North River, ' ' and on 1 2 Nov. , 
installed. On 21 Oct. 1874, he was released and 
on 21 Sept. 1875, dismissed to the "Presbytery of 
Boston." On 19 April 1875, Rev. Gerhardt W. T. 
Landan was received from the "South Classis of 
Bergen," and on 9 June he was installed. On 17 
Oct. 1877, ne was released and on 16 April 1878, 
dismissed to the " Presbytery of Washington City." 
Rev. Augustus Wetterstrom at once succeded Mr. 
Landan as supply. He was received from " Ger. 
Ev. Prot. Synod of the West," on 17 Sept., and 
on 12 Nov. 1878, he was installed. On 11 April 
1880, he was seized with hemorrhage during the 
morning services and died before reaching his 
house from the pulpit. 

On 27 May 1881, Rev. Hein W. Seibert was 
received from the "Presbytery of Newark," and 
on 28 June following, installed. On 17 April 1883, 
he was released and dismissed to the "Presbytery 



222 HISTORY OF 

of Cincinnati." On 17 Oct. 1883, Rev. Ferdinand 
Bernhardt was received on examination. The date 
of his installation is wanting. 

On 20 April 1886, he was released and dismissed 
to the ' ' Central Presbytery of Philadelphia. ' ' 

On 21 Sept. 1886, a call was read for Rev. 
George G. Knus, who had acted as supply since 
June. The call was "found in order and laid on 
the table, pending the reception of Mr. Knus to 
membership in this body. ' ' His credentials were 
referred to a committee, which "recommended 
that Mr. Knus be permitted under the care of the 
Presbytery, to supply them until the next stated 
meeting. ' ' * 

There has been no report from this church since. 

22. LIBERTY. — During the seventeen years 
pastorate of Rev. J. N. Husted, the old meeting 
house on the hill, was taken down and rebuilt in 
the village. Mr. Husted was released on 5 May 
1885. About the time of his release the parsonage 
was sold and a new one purchased, situated nearer 
the meeting house. 

On 22 Sept. following, Rev. George T. Galbraith 
was received from the " U. P. Presbytery of Ver- 
mont," and appointed Stated Supply. 

23. MIDDLETOWN, First.— On 1 Oct. 1879, 
Rev. Augustus Seward, D.D., was released. On 
21 Sept. 1880, a call upon Rev. E. C. Olney was 
read and found in order. After hearing commis- 



* Min. of Presb., Vol. x, p. 248. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 223 

sioners, and also those representing a large minority 
of the congregation, Presbytery judged it inexpe- 
dient to prosecute the call further, and urged both 
the majority and the minority to endeavor peace- 
ably to unite on some other person. 
On 9 Feb. 1881, Rev. John R. Lewis was received 
from the " Presbytery of Syracuse," and installed. 
His pastorate terminated, 4 Oct. 1885. 

On 19 April 1886, Rev. Thomas Gordon, D.D., 
the present pastor, was received from the ' ' Presby- 
tery of Alton," and on 13 May following, he was 
installed. During the pastorate of Dr. Gordon the 
interior of the church edifice has been renovated, 
and a new parsonage built, valued at $9000. 

12. MIDDLETOWN, Second.— Rev. Charles 
Beattie continues the faithful and efficient pastor. 
In 1883, the church edifice was renovated and 
improved. They have enjoyed four seasons of 
special refreshing from on high, while the growth 
in membership, in strength, in influence and in 
benevofence has been steady. The present mem- 
bership is three hundred and eighty. They con- 
duct a Sunday School of three hundred and fifty 
members, a "Ladies' Aid Society," a "Ladies' 
Missionary Society," and a "Young People's 
Society," similar in purpose to Societies of Chris- 
tian Endeavor. Present condition peaceful and 
outlook bright. * 



* Eocal History by Rev. Charles Beattie. 



224 HISTORY OF 

25. MILJPORD.— On 19 Sept. 1871, Rev. 
Cyrus Offer was received from the ' ' Susquehanna 
Congregational Association." He was supply at 
Milford for one year, in 1870-1, and was dismissed 
on 17 Sept. 1872, to the "Presbytery of Albany." 
Rev. John Reid was supply during the summer of 
1872, and Rev. L. C. Lockwood, for four months 
from Dec. 1873. On 21 April 1874, Mr. Eugene 
H. Mateer, a licentiate of the "Presbytery of 
Huntingdon," was received, and on 25 June, 
ordained and installed. During his pastorate the 
present commodious parsonage was built. On 10 
Feb. 1884, Rev. Abraham S. Gardiner was received 
from the " Presbytery of Boston," and on the 27th, 
he was installed. Through his efforts and influence 
the church edifice was completed, and the Presby- 
tery joined in the services of dedication on 22 Sept. 
1885. Since that time through the munificence of 
Gov. William Bross, of Chicago, a fine " Thomas " 
clock and bell have been placed in the tower. 
Two of the beautiful stained-glass windows are 
"Memorials." Mr. Gardiner, still ministers to 
them, and it is hoped that he may be spared to see 
the spiritual prosperity of the church for which he 
has been enabled to do so much in respect to 
material interests. 

26. MONROE.— After the release of Rev. 
Daniel N. Freeland on 23 Oct. 1881, this church 
secured temporary supplies, until, on 17 April 
1882, Rev. Thomas B. Thomas, the present pastor, 
was received from the "Welsh Presbytery of 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 225 

Northern Pennsylvania," and on 16 May follow- 
ing, lie was installed. 

27. MOUNT HOPE.— On 3 Oct. 1881, Rev. 
Luther Littell was released from his long pastorate 
of thirty-one years ; and on 17 April 1883, he was 
dismissed to the "Presbytery of Lansing." On 
that same day, Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald was re- 
ceived from the " Presbytery of Newton " and in- 
stalled. On 16 June 1885, he was released. Since 
that time the pulpit has been very irregularly sup- 
plied, and the membership has gradually diminished. 

27. MONTGOMERY. —In Jan. 1873, Re v. 
John Ward commenced his labors, and 22 May 
following, was installed: He was released on 19 
April 1875, and on 16 April 1878, dismissed to 
the ' 4 Presbytery of Newark. ' ' During his pas- 
torate twenty-five, chiefly from the Sunday School 
united with the church, and five elders were added 
to the Session. The present pastor, Rev. James C. 
Forsytlie, began his ministry here in July 1875. 
On 21 Sept., he was received from the " Classis 
of Geneva," and 011 14 Oct., he was installed. Up- 
wards of eighty-five souls have been received on 
confession of Christ, and sixty-two by letter during 
his pastorate. 

29. MONTICELLO.— On 15 Nov. 1870, Rev. 
T. Madison Dawson was received from the "Pres- 
bytery of New York," and on 6 Dec. installed. 
On 17 Sept. 1872, he was released. During his 
pastorate the present parsonage was bought. On 2 
1 5 



226 HISTORY OF 

Nov. 1872, Rev. Henry A. Harlow commenced his 
labors, and on 5 June following, he was installed. 
On 17 April 1877, he was released, and supplies 
were appointed. 

On 16 April 1878, Rev. John P. Scott, D.D., 
was received from the "Presbytery of Detroit," 
and on 7 May, installed. On 18 July 1882, he 
was released and dismissed to the " Presbytery of 
Cincinnati." During his pastorate the interior of 
the church edifice was greatly improved. On 1 Dec. 
1882, Rev. Hugh B. McCauley began his labors 
as pastor-elect. He was received from the " Pres- 
bytery of Jersey City," on 5 June 1883. On 1 
Nov. following, he returned his call, and on 22 
April 1884, he was dismissed to the " Presby- 
tery of New Brunswick." 

The Rev. Fenwick T. Williams was called on 
18 Mar. 1884. On 16 Sept. he was received from 
the " Presbytery of North River," and on 30th, 
installed. During the present year a new and fine- 
toned Troy bell has been placed in the steeple. 

30. NYACK.— On 10 May 1841, the " Presby- 
tery of New York, " divided the united church of 
Greenbush and Nyack," into two distinct organi- 
zations, continuing both, under the pastoral care 
of Rev. Jared Dewing. On 14 June following, the 
Presbytery released Mr. Dewing, and this church 
entered upon its new career, with sixty members 
and five elders. On 25 Oct. 1841, Rev. Charles 
M. Oakley was installed. In Sept. 1843, Mr - 
Oakley was released. On 23 Oct. following, Rev. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 227 

Joseph Penny, D.D., was called, and on 30 Nov., 
installed. In April 1847, Dr. P enn Y was released. 
On 26 Oct. 1847, Rev. Isaac S. Davison was in- 
stalled. During his pastorate the parsonage was 
built, and the church repaired. On 19 Oct. 1852, 
he was released. 

On 31 May 1853, Rev. Joseph Cory was installed. 
In 1867, his pastorate closed. On 30 Sept. 1867, 
Rev. Francis L. Patton was called, and on 25 Nov. 
following, he was installed. On 26 May 187 1, 
Mr. Patton was released and dismissed to the 
" Presbytery of Brooklyn." 

On 16 April 1872, Rev. A. McElroy Wylie was 
received from the " Presbytery of Brooklyn," and 
on 25th, installed. On 19 Sept. 1876, Mr. Wylie 
was released, and on 17 April 1877, dismissed to 
the "Presbytery of Philadelphia, North." On 3 
Oct. 1877, Mr. George H. Wallace, a licentiate of 
the "Presbytery of New York," was received 
ordained and installed. On 1 Jan. 1881, his pas- 
torate terminated, and on 3 Mar. 1883, he was 
dismissed to the "Presbytery of Monroe. " 

On 17 May 1881, Rev. John E. Lloyd, the 
present pastor, was received from the "Presbytery 
of Utica, " and on 14 June, installed. 

31. OTISVILXE.— On 14 June 1871, Mr. 
Robert H. Craig was received as a licentiate of the 
"Presbytery of New Brunswick," and on 27th he 
was ordained and installed. On 18 Mar. he was 
released and dismissed to the " Presbytery of Lack- 



228 HISTORY OF 

awanna. ' ' During his pastorate the parsonage was 
completed and paid for. 

On 20 Oct. 1884, Rev. John Service, the present 
pastor, was received from the " U. P. Presbytery 
of Albany," and on 20 Nov. following, he was 
installed. 

32. PALISADES.— On 23 April 1863, it was 
resolved to have a church. On 11 May, Rev. 
Joseph Greenleaf, Jr., was engaged to preach until 
1 Dec. The first service, at which thirty were 
present, was held on 15 May, in the Old 
Methodist meeting house, and a Sunday School, of 
seven scholars, was begun. On 7 June, work was 
commenced on the foundations for a house of wor- 
ship. On 23 Sept. the society was incorporated 
with eight trustees, and two persons were elected 
to the offices of elder and deacon respectively. On 
1 Oct. the congregation had increased to eighty 
persons, and the attendance at the Sunday School 
to ninety-three. On 14 Oct. the Palisades church 
was organized by the " Presbytery of New York." 
On the 21st, Rev. Joseph Greenleaf, Jr., was called. 
He continued his labors until 2 April 1866. The 
bell was rung for the first time at midnight of 31 
Dec. 1863, and the first service was held in the new 
church on 3 Jan. 1 864. 

The Rev. John K. Demarest was pastor from 16 
Oct. 1866, until 13 Feb. 1870. At the re-union 
this church fell within the bounds of the Presby- 
tery of Hudson and was enrolled on 13 Sept. 1870. 
Rev. Aaron H. Hand, D.D., was called on 18 Oct. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 229 

1870. On 15 Nov. he was received from the 
"Presbytery of Newton," and on 14 June 1871, 
installed. On 16 Sept. 1879, Dr. Hand was 
released, and on 3 Mar, 1880, he departed this life. 
On 26 Dec., Rev. J. William Mcllvain began 
his labors. On 16 Feb. 1880, he was received 
from the "Presbytery of Lehigh," and installed. 
On 19 Sept. 1882, he was released and dismissed 
to the "Presbytery of Baltimore." On 17 Oct. 
1883, Mr. Newton L. Reed, the present pastor, 
was received as a licentiate of the ' ' Presbytery of 
Cayuga," and on 4 Dec, installed. The member- 
ship is eighty-four, and the little Sunday School of 
seven members in 1863, is now augmented to a 
hundred. * 

33. PORT JERVIS.— On 20 Oct. 1884, Rev. 
Alfred P. Botsford was released and dismissed to 
the " Presbytery of West Jersey." The Session 
had leave to supply the pulpit. On 22 April 1885, 
Mr. James A. McWilliams was licensed, and on 16 
June following, ordained and installed in the 
pastoral office, which he still holds. 

In April 1887, fifty additions to the membership 
were reported on confession of Christ, and fifteen 
by letter, increasing- the total to three hundred and 
thirty-two. 

34. RAMAPO. — See complete history, p. 171. 
34. RIDGEBURY.— On 16 April 1872, Rev. 

Charles H. Park was called, and on 8 May, in- 



Compiled for " History of Rockland County," by Winthrop S. 
Gilman, Jr. 



230 HISTORY OF 

stalled. On 22 April 1873, lie was released. On 
16 Sept. following, Mr. Brown H. Kmerson, a 
licentiate of the ' ' Presbytery of New York, ' ' was 
received. He was ordained ' ' sine titulo, ' ' and ap- 
pointed Stated Supply at Ridgebury, on the 30th. 
Mr. Emerson continued until 1 Aug. 1875, when 
Rev. Theron Brittain succeeded him, and has re- 
mained as Stated Supply until the present time. 
Mr. Emerson was dismissed to the ' ' Presbytery of 
Boston," on 18 April 1876. 

Four have entered the ministry from the mem- 
bers of this church. Rev. Messrs. John N. Boyd, 
Lewis Jessup, Nathaniel Elmer and Elijah B. 
Wells. 

36. ROCKLAND, First. —This church is 
romantically situated on the Beaverkill, in the 
extreme northern angle of Sullivan County. 

On 4 July 1850, Mr. James Murdoch, deeded 
the lot upon which the meeting house stands to 
the "First Presbyterian Church of Rockland." 
The society became much weakened by deaths 
and removals, and the meeting house was falling 
to decay, when, on 11 Feb. 1880, an article of 
agreement was entered into with the village ' ' M. 
E. Church," — which had enjoyed the free use of 
the house for more than a decade, — granting them 
a representation in the Board of Trustees, and use 
of the building for religious worship, one-half the 
time, on condition of fairly proportioned assistance 
in effecting repairs. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 23 1 

Supplies were furnished by Presbytery for sev- 
eral years, during which the membership, reduced 
to five, all females, was increased to twenty, and 
two elders were ordained. On 1 Oct. 1883, Rev. 
Henry A. Harlow was called, for one-quarter of 
his time. He served them as pastor-elect, until 1 
Jan. 1886, when their call was returned. During 
this period, on 12 May, 1884, the church was in- 
corporated. Mr. George G. Dewitt contributed 
$10, and William B. Isham, Esq., of New York 
city, $50, toward the cost of a bell. The balance 
of $27.90, was raised by the congregation. The 
new bell was rung for the first time, for communion 
service on 30 Aug. 1884. Since the 1 Jan. 1886, 
this church has had preaching only at long in- 
tervals. 

37. SCOTCHTOWN.— The Rev. David Beattie 
is now in the thirty-sixth year of this, his only pas- 
toral charge. 

38. STONY POINT.— On 3 July 1855, the 
"Presbytery of New York," organized the North 
Haverstraw Presbyterian Church, with William 
Govan, M.D., as elder. A meeting house, built 
in 1844, was purchased from the Presbyterian 
Church of Haverstraw, reconstructed and enlarged. 
In i860, its corporate title was recognized as the 
Presbyterian Church of Stony Point. It has now, 
one hundred and seventeen members, and has 
maintained a flourishing Sunday School from the 
first ; of which Elder William H. Rose has long 
been the efficient Superintendent. 



232 HISTORY OF 

Their ministers have been, 
Rev. Abijah Green, P. E., - x 855 to 1857. 

" David Edgar, S. S., - - 1857 " T 859- 

" Frederick LaRue King, P., i860 " 1867. 

" James J. McMahon, P., 1868 to 18 Apr. 1876. 

On 22 Oct. 1879, Mr. R. B. Mattice was received 
from the "Presbytery of New York," and on 19 
May 1880, ordained and installed. On 20 Oct. 
following, he was released and dismissed to the 
' ' Presbytery of Westchester. ' ' On 2 5 April, Mr. 
Thomas C. Straus was received from the ' ' Presby- 
tery of Athens," ordained and installed. On 11 
Mar. 1884, Mr. Straus was released and dismissed 
to the " Presbytery of North River." On 29 Dec. 
1885, Rev. John S. Gilmor, the present pastor, was 
received from the " Presbytery of New York," and 
installed. 

39. UNION VIELE.— On 22 April 1884, the 
quarter-century pastorate of Rev. Henry F. Wads- 
worth was closed. It was ' ' with extreme regret 
that the Presbytery consented" to his release, and 
in doing so ' ' expressed the earnest hope that the 
congregation would not simply give him a dona- 
tion, as proposed, but pay him his salary in full to 
the date of release, in addition. ' ' Three ministers 
in active service were raised up in this congrega- 
tion during Mr. Wadsworth's pastorate. 

On 5 May 1885, Rev. J. Napier Husted was 
called. He "had leave to hold the call under con- 
sideration," and still serves that people as pastor 
elect. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 233 

40. WALDBERG, (Rockland Lake).— In 1859, 
this church appears on the roll of the ' ' Presbytery 
of New York ; ' ' Rev, James S. King, pastor. In 
i860, it is called, "Waldberg," and the next year 
is marked, vacant. In 1862, Rev. Archibald S. 
Stewart became pastor. Early in 1870, he was re- 
leased ; and on 17 April 1871, he was enrolled in 
this Presbytery, and dismissed on 14 Aug., to the 
"Presbytery of Lackawanna." 

Mr. George E. Northrup became Stated Supply in 
1 87 1, was received from the " Presbytery of New 
York," 17 Sept. 1872, and installed on the 30th. 
He was released on 1 May 1876, and became 
Stated Supply at Cochecton. On 8 May 1877, 
Presbytery was petitioned by both these churches 
to inquire into their common complaint. All their 
difficulties seem to crystallize around the household 
of Mr. Northrup. A commission with power, was 
appointed. In the meantime the affairs of the 
Waldberg Church becoming complicated with a 
suit in the Civil Courts, Presbyterial action was 
suspended ; until the final decision of the Court of 
Appeals, rendered any further action unnecessary. 
On 20 Sept. 1 881, Mr. Northrup was dismissed to 
the " Presbytery of Binghamton." 

The Waldberg Church however became dis- 
integrated, the Session of the Hempstead Church 
was authorized to give certificates to its members, 
and the name was dropped from the roll. 



234 HISTORY OF 

41- WASHINGTONVILLE, First.*— On 17 
April 1 87 1, Rev. John V. Griswold was released, and 
on 19 Sept., dismissed to the " Classis of Long 
Island." On 17 Oct. 1871, Rev. James B. Beau- 
mont was received from the ' ' Presbytery of 
Chemung," and on 8 Nov., installed. On 23 Dec. 
1 881, he was released and dismissed to the " Pres- 
bytery of Morris and Orange. In June 1882, Rev. 
George W. Morrill became Stated Supply, and so 
continued until 6 Sept. 1884. 

An effort toward the re-union of the two congre- 
gations was then made, and for three months they 
worshiped together. The time however seemed 
not to have come for this desirable result. 

In Nov. 1886, Rev. Joseph Greenleaf was called. 
On 19 April 1887, he was received from the 
"Presbytery of Westchester," and on 10 May fol- 
lowing, installed. 

This church ranks first in the Presbytery, in 
proportion to its membership, for benevolent con- 
tributions. In 1887, the average was $4.87^ per 
member. With church and parsonage in good re- 
pair, free of debt and refurnished, they are in a 
good condition, and well equipped for usefulness. 

42. WASHINGTONVILLE, Second.— On 17 
Oct. 187 1, Rev. Arthur Harlow was released. On 
19 June 1873, he departed this life. In 1872, Rev. 
Benjamin G. Benedict became Stated Supply, and 
so remained until 1875, when he was succeeded by 



Local History by Hon. Augustus Denniston. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 235 

Rev. Nathan M. Sherwood. Mr. Sherwood was 
received from the "Presbytery of Chemung-," on 
21 Sept. 1875, and supplied this church until 
1885. On 7 May 1878, Mr. Benedict was dis- 
missed to the "Presbytery of Brooklyn." On 19 
April 1886, Mr. Eugene L. Mapes, a licentiate of 
the "Presbytery of New York," was received, and 
on 27th, ordained " sine titiLlo." On 3 May 1887, 
he was installed. On 24 Jan. 188S, he was re- 
leased and dismissed to the "Presbytery of Car- 
lisle." Since his departure the parsonage has 
been sold. 

43. WESTTOWN.— On 21 Sept. 1875, Rev. 
Duncan C. Niven was released, and dismissed to 
the "Presbytery of North River." On 19 Sept. 
1878, a call was made upon Rev. Laurens T. 
Shuler. On 18 Oct., he was received from the 
" Presbytery of Newton," and on 9 Nov., installed. 
On 25 Jan. 1881, Mr. Shuler was released and 
dismissed to the " Presbytery of Jersey City." On 
19 April 1881, Rev. James B. Fisher, the present 
pastor, was received from the " Presbytery of 
Bingham ton, " and on 9 June installed. 

44. WHITE LAKE.— On 14 June 1871, Rev. 
Elijah B. Wells was leleased, and on 19 Sept., dis- 
missed to the " Presbytery of Chemung. " On 16 
April 1872, the church had leave to employ Rev. 
Edwin Town, of the " Presbytery of Lackawanna," 
as supply. In 1873, the pulpit again became 
vacant. On 21 April 1874, Rev. George Hood 
was called. On 25 June, he was received from the 



236 HISTORY OF 

"Presbytery of Chester," and remained pastor 
elect, until 22 April 1879, when he returned the 
call, and on 20 Oct., was dismissed to the "Min- 
nesota Congregational Association." On 29 April 
1880, Rev. Robert A. Blackford, the present pas- 
tor, was received from the "Presbytery of West- 
chester," and on 22 Sept. following, installed. 

To these forty-four churches there were three 
added during this period, viz. : 

1. ROCKLAND, Second.— This church, at 
Roscoe, in Sullivan County, was organized on 16 
April 1842, with five members, two of whom were 
elders. On 11 June they instructed their delegate 
to the ' ' Presbytery of Delaware, ' ' to request 
admission to that body. Supplies were appointed 
and the ordinances administered at long intervals, 
until, at the end of thirty-one years, the member- 
ship was reduced to two ; an elder and his wife. 

In the Spring of 1873, the Presbytery of Hudson 
appointed Rev. George Hood, pastor elect at White 
Lake, to labor as their missionary in this field. 
On 17 Sept. 1873, the church was received under 
the care of this Presbytery. In Oct. 1875, Mr. 
Hood's labors ceased and the membership had 
increased to thirteen. In 1877, Rev. James Norris 
began to supply them at long intervals and con- 
tinued until the Spring of 1882. Mr. T. Cumming 
Beattie, in 1882, and Mr. James A. McWilliams 
in 1883, spent their summer vacations with the 
First and Second Rockland, and Purvis Churches. 
In Oct. 1883, Rev. Henry A. Harlow, began to 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 237 

labor on this field, preaching for this church once 
in two weeks, and so continues to do. On 11 Feb. 
1884, an effort was begun to provide a house of 
worship. On 19 April, the church was regularly 
incorporated. In Jul}-, ground was broken and 
work begun on the meeting house, which was 
completed and dedicated, oh 17 Dec. 1884. The 
entire cost was $2,400, of which $500 was received 
from the Board of Church Erection. In June, a 
bell, weighing 844 lbs., was procured from " Mc- 
Shane," of Baltimore. To the expense of this, 
Stoddard Hammond, Sr., contributed $100, John 
R. Ford, Esq., of New York City, $50, and the 
balance, about $20, was raised by the congregation. 
There are twenty-five members. 

2. LIVINGSTON MANOR. —On 1 1 Jan. 1 880, 
a committee of Presbytery organized the " Presby- 
terian Church of Purvis." it was taken under the 
care of Presbytery on 20 April, and recommended 
to the Board of Church Erection for aid, to the ex- 
tent of $500, in building a house of worship. The 
house was completed, with a " Troy" bell in the 
steeple, at a cost of about $2,300. It was dedi- 
cated on 9 Jan. 1881. 

The pulpit was supplied by Rev. Messrs. James 
Norris, John N. Husted and David Beattie, Elder P. 
H. Woolsey, and Students, T. Cuminiug Beattie and 
James A. McWilliams, until, on 1 Oct. 1883, Rev. 
Henry A. Harlow was commissioned by the Board 
of Missions to labor in the town of Rockland, giv- 
ing one-half his time to the Purvis Church. A 



238 HISTORY OF 

neat and commodious parsonage was completed in 
July 1884, at a cost of $1,500. Of this sum, 
Messrs. John R. Ford and William B. Isham, of 
New York, contributed $150. On 5 Oct., 1886, 
after due legal notice, the church was incorporated 
as the "Presbyterian Church of Livingston Manor." 
It contributes to all the Boards of the Church, has 
sixty-three members, and a flourishing Sunday 
School of about one hundred scholars. 

3. NYACK, German.— On 4 March 1886, this 
church was organized, by a committee of Presbytery, 
with eighty-six members and two elders. On 5 May 
following, Rev. Adolph Schabehorn was installed. 
Measures were at once undertaken to secure a 
house of worship. On 19 April 1887, charges 
were presented impeaching the ministerial and 
moral character of Mr. Schabehorn. "A com- 
mission, with power to investigate and adjudicate, ' ' 
was appointed. On 31 May, agreeably to the 
report of the commission, Mr. Schabehorn was re- 
buked in the Presbytery for "indulgence in wine 
and beer as a beverage, and for indiscretion in con- 
versation." Mr. Schabehorn becomingly sub- 
mitted to the censure. His pastoral relation to 
the German Church of Nyack was dissolved, and 
he remains in charge of the Clarkstown Church, 
alone. The Nyack organization has a lot valued 
at $1,400, upon which they hope soon to build. 
A young student is now preaching for them with a 
good prospect of becoming their pastor. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

ANALYSIS OF THE PERIOD OF RE-UNION. — CON- 
CLUSION. 

This most interesting period, with its abundant 
material must be left to the mellowing influence of 
time, for the future historian's use. It has been 
a period of wonderful development in material 
things. In the fields of literature, educational 
interests and applied science, the world has never 
known its parallel. The christian church has 
been forced to fulfil her mission under new condi- 
tions. Heretofore she had thought only of pene- 
trating the darkness of heathenism with the light 
of the gospel : but within these eighteen years, 
heathenism has mingled its beliefs with those of 
Christianity, as extensively and diligently as Chris- 
tianity has prevaded heathenism. The prophecy 
of Zechariah is being fulfilled before our eyes. 
"It shall come to pass in that day, that the light 
shall not be clear nor dark : But it shall be one 
day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, 
nor night : but it shall come to pass that at even- 
ing time it shall be light."* The preacher of 
Christ, as he hears the Sunday Papers cried before 
his church, while the voice of prayer is drowned 
and the ear of devotion is stunned by the whistle 

* Zecli. xiv : 6, 7. 

(239) 



240 HISTORY OF 

and roar of Sunday Railroad Traffic, preaches 
under conditions similar to those of his co-presbyter 
in Syria or Shantung. He often feels his helpless- 
ness in stemming the godless greed of the time, 
and finds his religious sensibilities shocked and 
blunted by the audacity with which wickedness is 
defended. The promise " that at evening time it 
shall be light," sustains, but faith is sometimes 
staggered, and if the groaning could be uttered 
it might be, how long Lord, before that "evening 
time " shall come? 

But the shadows are deep because more light is 
radiated from the golden candlesticks amidst 
which Christ walks in his beauty and majesty. 

The benevolent work of the church is more 
thoroughly systematized and more intelligently 
done ; and gifts to the Lord's treasury have 
steadily increased in amount. 

This Presbytery is said, in 1885, to "easily take 
the lead of its sister Presbyteries with its increase of 
108 contributions to the Boards,"* and in 1887, 
to have made "an advance in the average per 
member, without a parallel in the last nine 
years, "t 

On 18 April 1876, the Presbytery became a cor- 
porate body, under the statute of the State of New 
York, (May 1887,) and elected a Board of Trustees. 

On 16 Sept. 1884, a bequest of $1,000, by Mr. 



•• Min. of Svnod of New York, 1SS5, p. 
t Ibid., 1887, p. 17. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 241 

Henry W. Owen, of Blmira, to the Presbytery of 
Hudson, was paid. Whereupon it was Re- 
solved, "That the Presbytery of Hudson 
makes grateful acknowledgment to Jesse Owen 
and James H. Owen, executors of the last will 
and testament of Henry W. Owen, deceased, 
of the payment to this Presbytery of the bequest 
of $1,000, by their late father in the establishment 
of the "Owen Fund," the interest of which is to 
be perpetually applied by the Presbytery to the 
education of young men preparing for the min- 
istry. ' ' X 

On 21 April 1885, Mr. George G. DeWitt, Sr., 
of Nyack, N. Y. , gave the sum of $1,000, to the 
Presbytery as a "Thank Offering." Whereupon 
Presbytery Resolved, "That, with grateful pleas- 
ure, they express appreciation of the generous gift 
by Elder, George G. DeWitt, of Nyack, of $1,000, 
to be securely invested, and the income thereof to 
be used, in perpetuity, by this Presbytery, to aid 
in supplying the preached gospel to feeble churches 
in its jurisdiction, and especially in the county of 
Sullivan,"* 

In April 1887, Mr. DeWitt supplemented this 
with an addition of $500, to be used as expressed 
in the original gift, f 

A larger proportion of the members of churches 



j Min. of Presb., Vol. x, p. 165. 
* Min. of Presb., Vol. x, p. 178. 
t Ibid., p. 265. 
16 ' 



242 HISTORY OF 

than ever before are finding a place to work in the 
vineyard. The "Cent Societies" of the earlier 
part of the Century, during this period, developed 
into the " Womans' Executive Committee of Home 
Missions," which was organized on 12 Dec. 1878. 
Auxiliary to this, there are twenty-seven " Ladies' 
Missionary Societies" and seven "Mission Bands," 
in the congregations of this Presbytery. In April 
1887, they reported a membership of 1,126, and 
had contributed during the year $1,089, with 
various packages and boxes valued at $982. 

In addition to the development of benevolence 
and the more general enlistment of the people in 
the work of faith and labor of love, this period may 
well be characterised as the period of statistics. 
Every year adds somewhat to the labors of the 
Stated Clerk, and makes easier the labor of the 
historian of the next Century. 

On 21 Oct. 1874, it was found necessary to pro- 
cure a Safe, at an expense of $76.37, for the pre- 
servation of the papers, securities and records, 
belonging to the Presbytery. A much larger one 
is imperatively needed to-day. 

It would be a pleasant task to give, for permanent 
record, a survey of the Missionary territory of this 
Presbytery : but the words of the Master must 
suffice, which are certainly applicable : " Ye have 
the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will 
ye may do them good."* 



Mark xiv : 7. 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 243 

The importance of Sunday School work is more 
full}- appreciated, and has grown to be one of the 
many bonds with which Christianity is enclosing 
all nations. The schools of this Presbytery report 
5,072 scholars. 

The number of communicants has varied but 
little from year to year, With 5,573 in 1871, there 
was a rapid increase to 6,372 in 1874. The lowest 
number after that was 5,720 in 1885, and in 1887, 
there were 5,826 reported. 

The names of Bloomingburgh, Damascus, 
Florida Second, and Waldberg, have disappeared 
from the list of churches, and those of Livingston 
Manor, Nyack German, and Rockland Second, 
have been added. From the roll of ministers in 
1870, no fewer than sixteen have gone " To the 
General Assembly and Church of the first-born, 
which are written in heaven, "f and thirteen still 
remain. 

In conclusion, while no forecast of the future of 
this ecclesiastical body need be attempted, it is 
fair and proper to infer from its history, that, only 
when it shall lose sight of its high function of 
guardianship against false teachers and unscriptural 
teachings, will there be any decay of vital piety in 
its churches. 

And the first indication of such shortsightedness 
maybe detected in, a gushing sentimentality on 



t Heb. xii : 25. 



244 HISTORY OF 

the one hand, or a criminal carelessness on the other, 
in respect to lowering the standard of qualification 
for membership in its own ranks. 

" It SHALL come to pass, that at evening time it 
shall be light." 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 



245 



VALUE OF THE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CHURCHES 
IN THE PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON, 1 888. 



CHURCHES. 


Meeting 
House. 


Parson- 
age. 


Other 

Property. 


Debt. 


Amity, 




$5, 000 


$4,ooo 






Callicoon, 




1,800 




$ 200 




Centreville, 




4,000 


2,000 




$ 100 


Chester, 




13,000 


S, 000 


1,000 




Circleville, 




2,500 


1,200 


300 




Clarkstown, 


(German,) 


2,500 








Cochecton, 




2,500 






30 


Denton, 




4,5oo 




8,000 




Florida, 




6,000 


2,000 


2,000 




Goodwill, 




8,000 


2,500 


4,5oo 




Goshen, 




160,000 


10,000 


1,500 


5.250 


Greenbush, 




3.7oo 


3,3oo 




800 


Hamptonbm 


•gh, 


3.000 


1,500 


1,600 




Haverstraw, 


First, 


5,000 








Haverstraw, 


Central, 


10,000 


3,ooo 






Hempstead, 




1,200 


1,400 






Hopewell, 




10,000 


1,500 




150 


Jeffersonville, (German,) 


2,000 


1,000 


1,000 


200 


Liberty, 




3.5oo 


2,000 






Livingston Manor, 


2,000 


1,200 






Middletown, 


First, 


60,000 


9,000 




8,000 


Middletown, 


Second, 


15.000 


7,000 






Milford, 




18,000 


i, 800 


1,200 


800 


Monroe, 




6,500 


3,5oo 


500 


400 


Monticello, 




7,000 


4,000 


300 




Montgomery 


', 


6,000 


2,500 






Mount Hope 




1,000 


1,500 


500 




Nyack, 




25,000 


7,000 




5,000 


Nyack, (German,) 






1,400 




Otisville, 




4,000 


3,000 






Palisades, 




4,5oo 


4,5oo 






Port Jervis, 




10,000 ? 


7,000 ? 







246 



HUDSON PRESBYTERY. 



Meeting. Parson- Other p. , , 
House. age. Property. 



Ramapo, 


2,500 








Ridgehury, 


3,5oo 


1,500 


200 




Rockland, First, 


1,200 








Rockland, Second, 


2,500 








Scotchtown, 


4,000 ? 


3,ooo ? 






Stony Point, 


10,000 








Unionville, 


3,500 


1,500 




75 


Washingtonville, First, 


5,000 


3,ooo 


500 




Washingtonville, Second, 


5,ooo 


3,100 ? 




1,500? 


Westtown, 


7,000 


1,200 


400 




White Lake, 


2,500 


600 


700 





Totals, 1452,900 $104,300 |25,8oo $22,305 
Net valuation of church property, - - $560, 695. 



PROPERTY HEED BY TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERY. 

" Owen " Education Fund, Sept. 1884, invested @ 6 per 

cent, bond and mortgage, - $1,000 

"Thank Offering." Home Missions, invested in part @ 6 per 
cent, bond and mortgage, - - - - 1,500 

One Safe, ------ 75 



$2,575 



Minutes of General Assembly from 1788 to 1888. 

A copy of the early Records of the Presbytery of New 

York. 
Complete Records of the Presbytery of Hudson, 8 vols. 

quarto and 5 folio. 
Files of original papers. 



INDEX. 



Associated Presbyteries, 22, 24, 31, 120. 

Analysis of the Periods, 27, 69, 117, 179, 239. 

Amenia, 60. 

Amity, 55, 87, 138, 206. 

Arbuckle, Rev. Jas., 88-90. 

American Education Society, 123, 190. 

American S. S. Union, 117, 

American H. M. Society, 124, 125. 

Bedford, 8, 9, 35. 

Bethany, 28, 67. 

Bethlehem, 15, 17, 35, 88, 139. 

Blooming-burgh, 170, 206. 

Blooming Grove, 62, 88. 

Bounds of Hudson Presbytery, 5, 33, 69. 

Bible Society, 78. 

CarbondaeE, 112. 

Callicoon, 163, 206. 

Centreville, 111, 140, 207. 

Chester, 51, 90, 140, 208. 

Circleville, 160, 207. 

Civil Disabilities in Colonial Times, 9, 10, 11, 31. 

Cochecton, 58, 91, 141, 209, 210. 

Cookhouse, 47. 

Clarkstown, German, 208. 

Cent Societies, 122, 77, 242. 

Causes of Disturbance in Church Life, 28-32. 

Communicants, 81, 203-205, 243. 

Charges by an alien prosecutor not entertained, 209. 

(247) 



248 INDEX. 

Damascus, 170, 209. 

Denton, 144, 210. 

Deer Park, 25, 38, 91, 143, 225. 

Doctrine, 130, 194. 

Dutchess Presbytery, Records of, 24. 

Dutchess Presbytery, Organized, 23. 

Division, Official Acts of, 131-135. 

Division, Source of, 119-122, 186-188. 

Division, Test Vote on, 132. 

Division of the Synod, 1 33. 

Doctrine, 13d, 194. 

Evidences of the Presbytery's Fidelity, 70-81. 
Education, Presbyterian Board, 123. 
Education, Ministerial, 79, 80, 122, 189. 
Education, Fund, 241. 
Excision of the Four Synods, 131, 188. 

Fjshkiix, (Rumbout,) 24, 39. 

Florida, First, 22, 23, 39, 93, 144, 211. 

Florida, Second. 145, 211. 

Forestburgh, 105. 

Franklin, (i, 17, 18, 19, 41. 

Foreign Missions, 128, 129, 185, 192. 

General Tax to Support Episcopacy, 9, 10. 

Goshen, 10, 12, 13, 44, 95, 146, 215. 

Greenbush, 59, 96, 217. 

Goodwill, (Wallkill), 13, 15, 42, 93, 145, 215. 

Haverstraw, First, 63, 97, 146, 219. 
Haverstraw, Central, 219. 
Harnptouburgh, 161, 218. 
Hempstead, 97, 149, 220. 
Honesdale, 112. 
Hopewell, 16, 45, 98, 150, 221. 
Hortonville, 171. 



INHERENT Vitality of the Presbyterian Bod)-, 189, 196. 
Inherent Vitality : Reasons for its Wholesome Influence, 196. 



INDEX. 249 

Inherent Vitality : Effects of its Influence, 197. 

Influence of Secular Affairs upon the Church, 29, 31, 180-182. 

Incorporation of Presbytery, 240. 

JekeersonvieeE, German, 167, 221. 

Liberty, 58, 99, 150, 222. 
Livingston Manor, 237. 

Marlborough, 56. 

Middletown, First, 106, 151, 222. 

Middletown, Second, 165, 223. 

Migration from New England, 34. 

Milford, 109, 151, 224. 

Milk Question, 184, 185. 

Missions, Home, 75, 124, 191. 

Missions, Foreign, 128, 192. 

Mission Bauds, 242. 

Monroe, 113, 152, 224. 

Montgomery, 114, 152. 

Monticello, 65, 100, 153. 

Mount Hope, (Deer Park), 92, 225. 

Mount Pleasant, 109. 

Morris County Associated Presbytery, 22, 31. 120. 

Newburgh, 17, 45. 

New Windsor, 17, 45. 

New Lights, or Separates, 28. . 

New Paltz, 56. 

New Town, 50. 

North Branch, 166. 

Nyack, 61, 96, 226. 

Nyack, German, 238. 

Otisvilxe, 60. 

Official Acts of Reunion, 198-203. 

PEEkskiee, 60. 
Patriotism, 182. 
Periods, 7, 8, 33, 136, 206. 



250 INDEX. 

Presbytery of Hudson, Origin, 5. 

Presbytery of Hudson, Divisions, 84, 118 

Presbytery of Hudson, Roll of Ministers 

Presbytery of Hudson, Roll of Churches, 

Presbytery of North River, Roll, 84. 

Pleasant Valley and Pittsburgh, 20, 21, 47. 

Pleasant Valley, West, 59. 

Pine Plains, 65. 

Pou'keepsie, 21, 64. 

Port Jervis, 165. 

Plan of Union, 34, 119, 120, 130, 131, 186. 

Permanent Committees on Church Work, 190-196. 

Public morals, 80. 

Polity, 125, 193. 

Ramapo Works, 171. 

Ridgebury, 61, 101, 154, 229. 

Reasons for Re-union, 189. 

Rockland, First, 170. 

Rockland, Second, 236 

Rockland Lake, (Waldberg,) 164, 233. 

Rondout, 116. 

Rumbout, (Fishkill,) 24, 39. 

Salem, 23, 48. 

Scotchtown, 50, 101, 155, 231. 

Smithfield, 59. 

Somers, 59. 

South East, (Union,) 19, 20, 49. 

Stony Point, 231. 

Sunday Schools, 117, 243. 

Temperance, 118, 183. 

Traffic in and use of Strong Drink, 183. 

Thank Offering Fund, 241. 

Union, (South East,) 19, 20, 49. 
Union, (In Beekman, Dutchess Co.,) 58. 
Unionville, 114, 155,232. 



119. 








6, 


85, 


137, 


138, 


203 


6, 


85, 


137 


138, 


203 



INDEX. 251 



VOTE on Re-union, 200. 
Vote on Division, 132. 

Wai^kiij,, (Goodwill), 13-15, 42, 74, 93, 145, 215. 

Wapping's Creek, 55. 

Warwick, 22, 23, 39, 40, 73. 

Washingtonville, First, 159, 234. 

Washingtonville, Second, 168, 234. 

Westtown, First, 54, 102, 156, 235. 

Westtown, Second, 156. 

White Lake, 66, 103, 157, 235. 

Westchester Associated Presbytery, 24, 31, 106, 120. 

Waldberg, (Rockland Lake,) 164, 233. 

YORKTOWN, 52. 



CORRIGENDA. 



Footnote, p. 31, for "Matt," read "Isaiah." 

On p. 41, for "McNice," read "McNeice." 

On p. 49, after the period in the 8th line, insert this sentence : 
On 22 Sept. 1813, Rev. Jacob Burbank was installed, and on 16 
April 1817, he was released. 

On p. 50, 5th line, for " 1790," read " 1796." 

On p. 51, 19th line, for "Two other," substitute "Three." 

On p. 52, 14th and 16th lines, for "Thompson," read 
" Thomas." 

On p. 85, 16th line, for "Bain" read "Blain." 

On p. 180, 8th line, for "was," read "war." 

Foot note, p. 192, for "MSS," read " N. S." 

On p. 127, 9th and 13th lines, substitute " colons " for periods, 
and follow with ' ' then, " " and. ' ' 

On p. 131, in 16th line, insert, "would be," after "division." 

On p. 185, begin a new paragraph with 8th line : " But little 
disciplinary work, etc. ' ' 

On p. 193, read in 2d line from bottom, " On 23 April." 

On p. 221, for "Fandan," read "Fandau." 

On p. 227, 2d line from bottom, after " 18 Mar.," read "1884." 

On p. 231, 3d line, for five females, all," read, "five, all 
females, ' ' 

On p. 232 6th line from bottom, read "Three ministers now 
in active service. ' ' 

On p. 240, 2d line from bottom, for " 1887," read " 1875." 



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